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Lightning strikes injure dozens in France and Germany Lightning strikes kill one and injure dozens across Europe
(about 1 hour later)
Dozens of people, including many children, have been injured as freak lightning strikes hit a Paris park and a football pitch in Germany. One man was killed and several people, including children, have been injured as lightning strikes hit parts of central Europe.
In Germany on Saturday, 35 people were injured in the western village of Hoppstädten when lightning struck the pitch at the end of a children’s football match. Three adults were seriously injured including the referee, who was hit directly and was rushed to hospital by helicopter, DPA news agency reported. In southern Poland on Saturday, a man in his forties was killed when he was struck by lightning as he descended the Babia Góra mountain, local media said.
In Paris, 11 people, eight of them children, were injured when lightning struck as they were celebrating a birthday party in Parc Monceau in the north-west of the city. Three others were injured by lightning in the region, while a 61-year-old man drowned in floodwaters, according to TVN24 television and PAP news agency.
Paris police said six of the victims were seriously hurt, with three of the children and one adult suffering life-threatening injuries. In Germany, more than 30 people were taken to hospital in the western village of Hoppstädten when lightning struck the pitch at the end of a children’s football match.
Eric Moulin, a Paris fire service spokesman, said an off-duty firefighter ran to the scene and saw eight children and three adults lying on the ground. The firefighter administered first aid and CPR and helped direct rescuers to the scene. “Without his actions, it would have been much worse,” Moulin said. Most of those affected were children, who were taken to hospital as a precaution and were found to be unharmed.
Emergency services attended the scene, with 29 fire engines mobilised. However three adults were seriously injured including the 45-year-old referee, who was hit directly and had to be resuscitated before being rushed to hospital by helicopter.
In Paris, 11 people – eight of them children, were injured when lightning struck as they were celebrating a birthday party in Parc Monceau in the north-west of the city.
Prof Pierre Carli, director of Necker hospital in Paris, said later that only one child was in a very serious condition and had required resuscitation.
All the children at the party were aged between seven and eight years old.
Paris fire service spokesman Eric Moulin said the group had rushed under a tree to shelter when it began to rain.
“It was while they were heading for shelter, when they were still near a tree, that the lightning fell,” Moulin said.“It was while they were heading for shelter, when they were still near a tree, that the lightning fell,” Moulin said.
Four children and two adults were seriously injured, while four children and one adult were slightly hurt. The children were aged between 7 and 14. Witnesses to the German lightning strike said it happened without warning.
Witnesses to the German lightning strike said it came out of the blue.
“There was no rain and the sky wasn’t dark,” a police spokesman told DPA.“There was no rain and the sky wasn’t dark,” a police spokesman told DPA.
Thirty children aged between nine and 11 were lightly injured and were taken to hospital for tests, along with five adults. Twenty-nine children aged between nine and 11 were taken to hospital for tests, where they were given the all-clear, a police spokeswoman told AFP.
In Paris, the injured were taken to hospitals including Necker hospital, a specialist children’s facility. In Paris, Moulin said it was an off-duty firefighter who had given the first aid, after hearing the commotion and rushing to help.
Emergency services were on the scene, with 29 fire engines mobilised.
The injured were taken to Paris hospitals including Necker hospital, a specialist children’s facility.
Authorities at Necker have set up a psychological and medical support cell to assist the families of the victims.Authorities at Necker have set up a psychological and medical support cell to assist the families of the victims.
The area of the park where the lightning struck was fenced off with caution tape, while two kids’ jackets, still soaking wet from the rain, could be seen hanging on the fence.The area of the park where the lightning struck was fenced off with caution tape, while two kids’ jackets, still soaking wet from the rain, could be seen hanging on the fence.
Local official Vincent Baladi, speaking to iTELE television, said the injuries included burns.Local official Vincent Baladi, speaking to iTELE television, said the injuries included burns.
“We hope they will all pull through,” said Baladi, who handles security matters in Paris’ eighth arrondissement where the park is located. Located in an affluent neighbourhood, Parc Monceau is popular with families at the weekend.
Located in an affluent neighbourhood of the city’s northwest, Parc Monceau is popular with families at the weekend.
While lightning usually strikes individual people, it is possible for whole groups to be struck at once.While lightning usually strikes individual people, it is possible for whole groups to be struck at once.
Michel Daloz of weather agency Meteo-France told AFP that between 100 and 200 people are struck by lightning every year in the country, killing between 10 and 20 people.Michel Daloz of weather agency Meteo-France told AFP that between 100 and 200 people are struck by lightning every year in the country, killing between 10 and 20 people.
He stressed that people should never head under trees during storms - as the group did in the Parisian park - as they often attract lightning. He stressed that people should never head under trees during storms – as the group did in the Parisian park – as they often attract lightning.
“It’s what we call the ‘lightning rod effect’,” said Daloz. In the case of Parc Monceau, he added, “the floor was wet, so it conducted much more strongly.”“It’s what we call the ‘lightning rod effect’,” said Daloz. In the case of Parc Monceau, he added, “the floor was wet, so it conducted much more strongly.”
Victims of lightning strikes can suffer lasting cardiological and neurological effects, Daloz said.Victims of lightning strikes can suffer lasting cardiological and neurological effects, Daloz said.