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Divers search for missing child after lightning strike near Orlando rowing club

ORLANDO, Fla. — The search for a missing child is ongoing after a lightning strike Thursday evening near a lake in Orlando.

The lightning strike also put another child in a hospital.

The strike happened around 5:50 p.m. at Lake Fairview, near Lee Road and Edgewater Drive.

Firefighters said five people from a rowing club were on a boat when the lightning struck.

Parents were at the lake all night and into Friday morning, waiting for answers.

Orange County Fire Rescue divers were pulled from the water around 1 a.m. and plan to return at sunrise.

Seminole County crew stayed throughout the night and used a boat and sonar to search for the missing middle schooler.

Officials believe the lightning struck the boat, or near it, causing it to overturn.

Channel 9 weather radar showed more than a dozen strikes around the time.

Firefighters said five middle schoolers were on the boat, four rowers and a coxswain, responsible for steering.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Q Mccray

Q McCray, WFTV.com

Q McCray is an award-winning general assignment reporter.

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