United States, Amber Escudero Contostatis is the sole survivor of a deadly lightning strike near the White House.Now she’s grappling with survivor guilt

Escudero Contostatis, 28, and three other victims were riding a thunderstorm under a tree in Lafayette Park on Aug. 4, law enforcement sources told CNN earlier this month.

Escudero-Kontostathis said on CNN’s “New Day” Thursday that six lightning bolts fell within half a second.

James Mueller, 76, Donna Mueller, 75, and Brooks Lambertson, 29, have all died from their injuries.

“I don’t know why I succeeded,” Escudero-Contostatis told CNN affiliate WUSA. “I definitely have survivor guilt because if I’m this lucky, I think everyone should be.”

Escudero Contostatis, who suffers from nerve damage from the waist down and has no feeling in his legs, relies on a walker most of the time.

“Sometimes my legs just don’t want to do what they should,” she said. Sometimes I feel cold.”

Escudero-Kontostathis said doctors told her that none of the patients she endured survived.

“Emergency ER nurses actually got my heartbeat back twice. There was no oxygen to my brain for 10 minutes between the two heartbeats, and no heartbeat at all.

According to WUSA, Escudero-Kontostathis had recruited the park for Threshold Giving, a grassroots organization that raises money for nonprofits such as the International Rescue Committee and the Humane Society.

Escudero-Contostatis wore thick rubber-soled Doc Martens shoes during the strike, which she said probably helped absorb some of the shock she absorbed, but she She credits emergency responders, hospital staff and the U.S. Secret Service for saving her life.

“Don’t go out in a thunderstorm wearing Docs. It won’t save you. That’s for sure.” and all attention is directed to them.”

Elderly couple and bank executive killed in strike

Escudero-Kontostathis is trying to piece together some of the lost time from his memory, but he remembers meeting and talking to the Muellers, who were visiting from Wisconsin, before they all got attacked. increase.

“They were really nice, wonderful people,” she said. “My heart is always broken for both families going through that loss.”

The Muellers and Lambertsons were the 10th, 11th, and 12th people to be killed by lightning in the United States so far this year, according to National Lightning Safety Council expert John Jensenius.

Lambertson, vice president of City National Bank, was in the area on a business trip from Los Angeles.

“Brooks was an incredible young man who will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and unwavering positivity,” his employer said in an online news release. It is devastating to all who knew him, and his family, friends and colleagues are grateful for the thoughts and prayers that have come from across the country.”