Va. Woman Dies After Being Stabbed by a Wind-Blown Beach Umbrella

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

A Chester, Va., woman has died of injuries she suffered after being stabbed in the chest by a beach umbrella that was caught up in the wind, WTKR reports.

Virginia Beach police responded to emergency calls just after 5 p.m. Wednesday after being notified about a woman in cardiac arrest. The woman, identified as 55-year-old Lottie Michelle Belk, was taken to a local hospital but died from her injuries.

According to the report, the beach umbrella had been anchored, but a particularly strong gust of wind on the oceanfront blew it across the sand.

Advertisement

“It kind of looked like something out of the Wizard of Oz,” Hugh Martin told the station. “I saw the umbrella go up in the air, and it hit the woman, literally knocking her to the side. Immediately, the lifeguards, people started rushing around. It was probably one of the scariest things I have ever seen.”

Advertisement

The Virginia Beach Police Department is investigating the incident.

Advertisement

Read more at WTKR