Teenage boy and man in 20s struck by lightning as wild weather hits
A teenage boy and a man in his 20s have been taken to hospital after being struck by lightning, as wild weather hits the east coast of Australia.
Just before 2pm on Monday, NSW Ambulance were called after reports of a boy struck by lightning.
Three crews were dispatched to the Giant Stairway Walking Track in the Blue Mountains National Park.
In a statement to Yahoo News Australia, NSW Ambulance confirmed a 16-year-old boy was treated for lightning strike entry and exit wounds on his arms and feet and burn marks on his torso.
Paramedics also tended to a 24-year-old man who was leaning against a metal railing at the time of the lightning strike.
“These people are extremely lucky to be alive,” Inspector Greg Marshall, Duty Operations Manager NSW Ambulance said.
“One centimetre either way and they would have faced a direct hit which could’ve been fatal.”
Both the 16-year-old and the 24-year-old were transported to Nepean Hospital and Inspector Marshall confirmed the two were both in stable conditions.
“This is an extraordinary circumstance, being struck by lightning is a terrifying experience.
“Paramedics had to work quickly at the scene – they want to get in there and do whatever needs to be done to save a life, often putting their own safety as risk.”
The two were tourists, the 16-year-old from Croatia, according to 7 News.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for NSW, Victoria and Queensland on Monday.
⚡⚡ Severe #Thunderstorm Warning for Damaging Winds, Large Hailstones & Heavy Rainfall for large parts of Southern, South Eastern and Eastern #NSW. For latest warnings visit: https://t.co/bKgH3U9x5k #NSWSES #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/BVCvcdD81m
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 20, 2020
In NSW, severe thunderstorms are expected in Newcastle all the way down the coastline to the Victorian border.
Inland towns as far west as Dubbo, Parkes and Narrandera are facing the storm conditions which includes dangerous winds.
Earlier in January, NSW Ambulance was called to two seperate scenes, where two people were struck by lightning just minutes apart.
On January 9, a woman in her 70s was struck in her chest by lightning outside her home in northwest Sydney, ten minutes later, NSW Ambulance responded to a call in Dee Why Beach, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where they tended to a man in his 20s who was also struck by lightning.
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