Sole survivor of lightning strike near White House shares her story of recovery

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — The sole survivor of the lightning strike in Washington, D.C., that killed three people near the White House is speaking out for the first time.

The woman was in Lafayette Square on her birthday, when six bolts of lightning struck the group within half a second during an Aug. 4 thunderstorm. Four victims, including Amber Escudero-Kontostathis, suffered critical injuries and were taken to area hospitals.

Donna Mueller, 75, and James Mueller, 76, a couple from Janesville, Wisconsin, and Brooks Lambertson, 29, a Los Angeles bank employee, were identified among the dead, according to authorities.

“I always thought like a tree would, if it were hit by lightning, would catch on fire and you’d run from the fire," Escudero-Kontostathis said.

During a Tuesday morning interview on Good Morning America, she shared her story of recovery and how she's trying to offer support to the families of those who died that day.

I don't know why I survived. I just don't think it's fair," Escudero-Kontostathis told GMA while holding back tears. "I'm grateful but I just don't feel good about being the only one."

Escudero-Kontostathis said the last thing she remembers is talking to the Wisconsin couple because they were there for a family reunion and she asked them "how their time was out here."

The 28-year-old woman also tells GMA one thing that may have helped her that day – her shoes.

"I was wearing my platform sandal Doc Martens that have humongous rubber soles. They definitely didn't save my life but I definitely think that it contributed to potentially less of a burn," she said.

She said she feels lucky to be alive.

"I died and came back, I think," Escudero-Kontostathis said. "You don't know when your last day would be."