Man dies after being struck by lightning at local campground

Friends and family are remembering Ryan Snutch as "a wonderful father and a very kind, gentle soul" after the 26-year-old man died early Sunday morning when he was struck by lightning.

Snutch was sleeping in a tent with his partner, Roseann Garde, and their 18-month-old son, Julian, at the Whispering Pines Campground near Curran.

A violent thunderstorm hit the area shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, September 4, sending two bolts of lightning crashing into a nearby tree. Police believe the lightning traveled down through the tree and struck the nearby tents.

Police reported Snutch was found unconscious and rushed to Hawkesbury and District General Hospital.

Eileen Garde, Roseann's mother and owner of the campground, noted there were numerous attempts to revive Snutch and campers rushed to his aid, performing CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

Snutch, however, would later succumb to his injuries at the hospital. Eileen said it is believed the lightning struck Snutch's heart.

"Everyone did everything the possibly could," Eileen noted. "We are so fortunate to have such a loving community of people here. They didn't think twice, just jumped in and did whatever they could to help."

Read more in this week's edition of The Review.