CNN 2010-08-03

I tried everything; I was, even, even when they took him away, I was optimistic that he was going to make it.

 

Peter Datch is still shaken up after witnessing a total stranger now identified as Ronald McCreaty take his final steps.

 

I could've made a friend than I lost one.

 

While police can't confirm lightening¹ is what killed the 68-year-old Hamilton man, Datch says what he witnessed just before 5 yesterday afternoon as he was riding his bike here along this trail during a thunderstorm was unmistakable.

 

Then I see the bolt² of lightning and a crack, and, uh, I just said to myself: oh my God, oh my God, what am I going to do?

 

Datch said after McCreaty collapsed³, he looked for any signs of burn marks on the victim's hands and feet, but there were none. In fact, the only sign he could see the lightening has struck was the burnt hard bark on this tree.

 

When the paramedics arrived, they asked, well, how do you know he was struck by lightning? I said, well, look at the tree. 

 

Datch and another man gave him CPR for 5 minutes before paramedics arrived, but it would be in vain. Those who knew McCreaty who lived in this apartment building by himself on Hamilton Mountain, say he loved his daily walk.

 

I felt really sad because I used to see him walking up and down the street almost every day.

 

The superintendent⁴ of his former building says he was stunned⁵ to learn what had happened.

 

Not a very good way to die. I can think of other ways to die, but not, hit by lightning.

 

Peter Datch realizes he is lucky, it could have easily been him.

 

I was 2 to 3 seconds away from getting off my bike and being with him.
 

1 lightening   

n.发光v.使（某物）更明亮( lighten的现在分词 )；变得更光明

参考例句：

• The lightening splintered a tree. 闪电把一棵树劈开了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• I saw the lightening split the clouds and heard the thunders following. 我看到闪电撕开云层，听到随之而来的雷声。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）

2 bolt   

n.螺栓；插销；vt.闩，栓住；vi.冲出去，逃跑

参考例句：

• It is a bad habit to bolt your food.狼吞虎咽地吃东西是个不良习惯。
• That door refuses to bolt.那扇门关不牢。

3 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

4 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

5 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。