Perth Student Recounts Spine-Chilling Lightning Strike Experience
A 16-year-old student from Perth recounted a harrowing experience involving a lightning strike while on a school tennis court. Georgia Rizzi described how a bolt struck a nearby basketball hoop and ricocheted, injuring her and a friend. This incident occurred amidst an unseasonal thunderstorm that swept across the city.
Incident Overview
The lightning strike took place on Thursday, resulting in three individuals, including Rizzi, being hospitalized. One man in his 70s sustained critical injuries while walking his dog in the suburb of Hamersley.
Details of the Lightning Strike
While at Eastern Hills Senior High School in Mount Helena, approximately 40 kilometers east of Perth, Rizzi and her friends noticed the storm brewing as they headed towards the sports courts. She recalled, “Everyone’s hair started sticking up. Then there was a loud bang.” Shortly thereafter, the lightning struck.
- Rizzi felt vibrations in her spine and pain in her head.
- She experienced numbness in her feet, prompting her friends to assist her to the school office.
- Teachers observed that the girls were stuttering and had difficulty standing.
Medical Response
Teachers provided immediate care and advised Rizzi and her friend to lay down with their feet elevated until paramedics arrived. At the hospital, Rizzi underwent several tests, including cardiac evaluations, before being discharged with instructions to monitor her symptoms. Aside from some spinal discomfort, she reported feeling well.
Expert Commentary on Lightning Strikes
Deane Coxall, manager of St John WA, emphasized the rarity of such events, noting he had never encountered three simultaneous lightning strike injuries in his nearly 15 years of experience. He urged public caution during electrical storms.
Statistics and Insights
Recent thunderstorms in the area produced around 10,000 lightning strikes, affecting a wide region across metropolitan Perth and southern Western Australia. According to meteorological data, approximately 100 individuals are struck by lightning in Australia annually, with fatalities ranging from five to ten each year.
In light of this unusual incident, authorities stress the importance of staying vigilant during storms to safeguard against potential lightning strikes.
