FORT WORTH, Texas — Two brothers who were playing outside Wednesday evening have been hospitalized after lightning struck a nearby tree, officials in Fort Worth said.
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to Iron Ridge Drive, near West Risinger Road and Interstate 35W, around 6:30 p.m.
According to the department, two children were playing in a front yard when lightning struck a nearby tree, causing them to be hit by an energy shock.
The family identified the two brothers as Isaac, 7, and Jaden Alvarado, 13.
The yard they were playing in wasn't theirs but belonged to a family friend.
"It doesn't appear at this time that they were physically struck by the lightning but in close enough proximity to the tree that the electrical charge took them both down to the ground according to neighbors who witnessed it," the fire department told WFAA.
Both children were transported to Cook Children's Medical Center and were listed in critical condition, according to officials. The fire department said both of them were responsive while in the ambulance.
The boys' mother spoke to Cook Children's about the incident.
"It looked like fireworks were coming down the tree," Jessica Alvarado said. "I saw the boys lying on the ground when the fireworks stopped. ... I thought I had lost my boys. It's the worst feeling ever. I would never wish that on anyone."
While there were no storms in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in the early evening hours, severe storms happening in the southern counties of North Texas were producing lightning 40 to 50 miles away from the storm.