Woman dies in freak umbrella stabbing

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A woman in Virginia is dead after being stabbed in the chest with an umbrella Wednesday.

Severe winds blew the anchored umbrella across the sand, stabbing  Lottie Belk, 55, in the chest, according to a police investigation.

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Belk's oldest daughter, Ashley Denton, told WTVR her mother was at the beach celebrating her wedding anniversary and 56th birthday, which would've been June 19.

Denton said her mother was a "loving lady" who recently earned her master's degree in business from Strayer University.

"It was pretty windy down here," witness Hugh Martin said. "(I) saw the umbrella go up in the air, and literally hit the woman, knocking her to the side."

Belk was taken to the hospital but died of her injuries soon after.

She leaves behind two daughters, a stepdaughter, stepson and a husband.

Tom Gill, Captain of the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service, told WTKR this was the first time he has heard of someone being killed by an umbrella and considers it a freak accident.

The Virginia Beach Police Department Homicide Unit is investigating the incident.

Cox Media Group