‘Miracle’ woman describes feeling guilty about surviving lightning strike that killed three others

The sole survivor of a freak lightning strike that killed three people near the White House on August 4 has finally shared her side of the story, admitting she is suffering from survivor’s guilt and doesn’t know why she survived.

Amber Escudero-Kontostathis, 28, is the only survivor of the freak weather event that saw six bolts of lightning strike the group in under half a second.

The strike killed Brooks Lambertson, 29, a VP at City National Bank, and James and Donna Mueller, 76 and 75, who were visiting the capital for their 56th wedding anniversary.

The group hid under a tree during a summer storm which was subsequently hit by a bolt of lightning, with that flash caught on camera.

Escudero-Kontostathis, who was left with burns after the lightning traveled through her body, revealed her guilt about surviving in a new interview with Good Morning America, adding: ‘I don’t know why I survived.’ 

‘I don’t feel good about being the only survivor, that’s for sure,’ she continued.

She said she was waiting for her husband to pick her up so they could celebrate her birthday as she canvassed near at Lafayette Square for non-profit Threshold Giving.

‘I was just surprised to learn I’d been struck at all,’ Escudero-Kontostathis said. ‘I didn’t really fully comprehend it at first.’

She said she was unprepared for how to react to a lightning strike, recalling how she thought hiding under a tree was a good idea, as the tree ‘would catch on fire, and you’d run from the fire.’ 

But Vito Maggiolo, a DC Fire and EMS spokesperson, reiterated this was not a safe plan: ‘Trees are not safe places. Anybody that goes to seek shelter under a tree, that’s a very dangerous place to be.’

While she says her memory of the day is foggy, she remembered talking to James and Donna Mueller, who were killed in the strike.

‘I just hope I didn’t stop them to talk to them’ said Escudero-Kontostathis through tears. ‘I hope they weren’t there because of me.’

The charity worker said she thinks her shoes may have been the decisive factor in her survival as they were platform sandals with large rubber soles made by Doc Martens.

‘They definitely didn’t save my life,’ she said of the shoes, which retail for $110 on the company’s website. ‘But I definitely think it contributed to potentially less of a burn.’

Still, the flash of lightning traveled through the ground and shocked her body, resulting in her being rushed to hospital in critical condition as she struggled to breathe and suffered from severe burns.

‘I died and came back,’ she said. ‘I don’t think I had a heartbeat for some time. You don’t know when your last day might be.’ 

She was placed on a ventilator once she arrived at the hospital, but her mother said she made a quicker recovery than anticipated, despite the severity of her injuries.

The family added that Amber is ‘very scared’ and keeps asking what happened to her and is suffering from ‘survivors guilt.’ 

Luckily, two nurses, Nolan Haggard and Jessee Bonty, happened to be nearby and performed CPR on the victims along with secret service agents.  

Escudero-Kontostathis was able to meet with them again for the interview, where she was able to thank the pair and give them hugs for helping save her life.

‘I owe you everything,’ said an emotional Escudero-Kontostathis. ‘If it weren’t for all of you guys, I wouldn’t be here.’ 

While the nurses were able to save the life of one of the group, the other three weren’t so lucky, and died as a result of injuries caused by the lightning.

Paying tribute to Lambertson, a statement from City National Bank said he had managed sponsorships for the bank for the last three years. 

Previously he did marketing for the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, with the bank saying: ‘Brooks was an incredible young man who will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and unwavering positivity.

‘His sudden loss is devastating for all who knew him, and his family, friends and colleagues appreciate the thoughts and prayers that have poured in from around the country.’

Lambertson went to high school in Folsom, in Northern California, and graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The Muellers were high school sweethearts who had travelled to Washington from their home in Janesville, Wisconsin, to celebrate more than half a century together.

‘They were high school sweethearts,’ their niece, Michelle McNett told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ‘They had a whole itinerary. They were supposed to be at Mount Vernon today.’

Jim owned and still worked at a drywall company, though was mostly retired. Donna was a retired school teacher.

‘Both would do anything for family or friends,’ McNett said, ‘Jim would give you the shirt off his back.’