‘I thought someone sent the lightning my way’
According to the South African Weather Service, approximately 260 people are killed by lightning in South Africa each year.
The Highveld is known for its afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. Coupled with that is spectacular lightning dancing against the grey skies.
Seeing lightning strike is also a scary experience and witnessing nature’s wrath up close is even scarier.
Mr Xolani Nkutha was only meters away from the Palm Tree in OR Tambo Street that was struck by lightning yesterday (January 3).
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They were travelling in their car when the lightning struck the tree.
“I thought someone sent the lightning my way, it was very scary. My 8-year-old son saw the lightning strike the tree. I just saw a ‘huge’ light and heard my son screaming ‘Daddy look, the tree is on fire’,” Xolani said.
On their website, Arrive Alive shared some tips on what to do when someone is hit by lightning
- If you are near a person who has been struck by lightning, immediately activate the emergency services.
- If the person is unconscious and not breathing, start Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- It is essential that CPR is started promptly, as the electrical shock may interfere with the electrical current of the heart, causing it to stop beating properly.
- The patient may appear to be deceased in many cases as the electrical current having gone through the body stops the heart, and it will need to be restarted again.
- CPR is performed in long duration on these patients, where immediate activation of emergency care and starting of CPR, has a very good prognosis for these patients.
- All patients who are affected by lightning strikes need to be further observed at an appropriate medical facility.
Lightning Safety Tips (Outdoors)
Learn how to protect you and your loved ones during a thunderstorm. Being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever. @ArriveAlive @FatalMoves @News24 @IOL @eNCA @ConstructionSfy @SAWeatherServic @sawx_sa_weather pic.twitter.com/WATRpCWRGa— NETCARE 911 (@Netcare911_sa) February 22, 2020
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