Stepdad's struggle to save son, 9, after 'extremely rare occurrence'
A man had to watch on as his nine-year-old stepson was killed by a lightning strike during football practise, an inquest has heard.
Jordan Banks was training in Blackpool, England, on May 11 when he was struck by lightning, the BBC reported.
Coroner Alan Wilson told the inquest there is “no obvious reason” why Jordan was hit but the weather had quickly changed before he died. Mr Wilson added the boy died from cardiac arrest.
Daniel Begg, Jordan’s stepdad, was in a car watching him train before he was struck.
"He reports he saw lightning hit Jordan and he fell to the ground straight away," Mr Wilson told the inquest.
Mr Begg tried to perform CPR on Jordan but could not save him.
Emma Gleeson, whose son was preparing to train too, rang an ambulance, The Sun reported.
"Daniel (Begg) clearly was thinking the same thing I was thinking and was saying: 'He's gone, he's gone',” she said in a statement.
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An ambulance arrived and Ms Gleeson said Mr Begg yelled at paramedics that Jordan was not breathing.
“He picked him up in his arms and was running to us,” she said.
Jordan was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Jordan's death 'extremely rare occurrence'
A Met Office report was read which stated possible thunderstorms had been forecast but no severe weather warning was issued, Sky News reported.
The coroner said he will contact the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport with a recommendation of reminding people about the risk lightning poses to “avoid another family having to go through this sort of tragedy”.
He noted Jordan’s death was “an extremely rare occurrence”.
Jordan’s family also issued a statement calling him “the brightest star” with an “infectious smile” and “golden curls”.
“Wise beyond his years, caring, considerate, generous and so loving,” they said.
His dad, Matt Banks, said his boy’s organs have saved three other kids and called him a “selfless little person”.
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