The sole survivor of a lightning strike that killed three people outside the White House was saved by quick-thinking Secret Service agents — and her boots, Dr. Martens, according to her mother.
California student Amber Escudero-Contostatis was hit last Thursday while raising money in Washington, D.C., for refugees — even though it was her 28th birthday.
While three others were killed in the crash — including a young fellow from California — Escudero-Contostatis was revived by agents who rushed to the scene with a defibrillator, her mother Julie Escudero told the Ventura County Star.
“The Secret Service men saved her,” Escudero said. “I was trying to find out their names so I could thank them personally. They revived her.
Amber Escudero-Contostatis was the only survivor of four people struck by lightning outside the White House last Thursday – her 28th birthday. LinkedIn
In a series of emotional Facebook updates, Escudero detailed how doctors believe the lightning that struck her daughter “went through her toes and through her left arm.”
That probably meant her daughter was saved by the thick rubber “Airwair” soles of the Dr. Martens boots, which absorbed some of the impact, her mother surmised.
Escudero-Contostatis, who was with her husband Achille in D.C., has now left the intensive care unit and taken her first steps unassisted, said her mother, who flew from California to be by her daughter’s side.
“The trauma doctor came [Friday] and said it was an “absolute miracle,” her mother told the local outlet.
Amber Escudero-Contostatis was the only survivor of four people struck by lightning who was caught on camera falling to the foot of the White House last Thursday REUTERS
In her Facebook posts, Escudero also described how her daughter is “literally blowing away all the doctors with the progress her body is making.”
Still, she is suffering from “excruciating” pain from a large burn to her stomach that left her feeling like it was “on fire” – and suffering from crushing “survivor’s guilt” after learning the three others struck died, a mother said her
Escudero-Contostatis had an appointment Monday with a trauma psychologist.
And she also “connected with the other 3 wonderful people who passed,” her mother said, referring to bank vice president Brooks Lambertson, 29, as well as James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, beloved children from Wisconsin. who are celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary.
The three killed include James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, childhood sweethearts from Wisconsin celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary Facebook/WISN 12 NEWS
“She wants to contact their families,” her mother said Monday. “She cares so much about others that it’s going to be hard for her.”
Escudero-Contostatis is also worried about missing the start of her master’s course at Johns Hopkins later this month.
Escudero said she is “extremely grateful and humbled” that friends have set up a GoFundMe, which as of Monday afternoon had raised more than $40,000 to help with medical expenses.
“I literally fell to my knees when I saw the GoFundMe page. I really have no words!” she said.
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