Five people are recovering after being hit by lightning Sunday at Cantiague Park in Hicksville.

The victims were at a soccer match when the lightning bolt struck during a severe thunderstorm.

"Everybody just went to the floor, like the lightning just pushed everyone away from the tree," says witness Marvin Guzman. "Everybody is all burned, all in the back."

Ambulances raced to the scene and took the victims to Nassau University Medical Center, where two of them were admitted to the burn unit in serious condition. The others were treated and released.

Officials say the victims are lucky they weren't killed. Experts advise people to seek shelter in a sturdy building or hardtop vehicle, avoid trees and water and to stay away from metal during a thunderstorm.

The Nassau parks commissioner says this was the first time anyone has been struck by lightning at Cantiague Park in recent years.

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