The Brief
- A group of five fishermen sped 30 mph back to shore after static electricity from a distant storm created St. Elmo’s fire on their boat.
- The metal frame began clicking and emitting visible blue plasma while the boat was anchored 50 miles off the coast of Bradenton.
- Although one fisherman received a shock, the group escaped safely and is remarkably still considering purchasing the vessel.
BRADENTON, Fla. – A routine boat inspection turned into a high-speed escape when static electricity from a fast-moving storm began generating St. Elmo’s fire on a vessel 50 miles off Bradenton.
Bradenton boat St. Elmo’s fire
The backstory:
Scott Gilligan of Wesley Chapel says he had never heard of St. Elmo’s fire until the metal frame of a boat he was on began clicking on Tuesday morning.
Gilligan was checking out a boat with four friends to see if it was a worthy investment.
They thought they were safe by anchoring about 50 miles offshore, and more than 20 miles away from an incoming storm.…