A French teenager is in a “very worrying” condition after being struck by lightning while at an outdoor youth camp, say local authorities.
The 15-year-old boy suffered a cardiac arrest and burns. He is in hospital in Tours, about 120km (75 miles) north of the recreation centre in Lathus-Saint-Rémy, central-west France.
Another two youths are in hospital and five more were hurt in Monday’s lightning strike.
Several are suffering from tinnitus.
The injured were among a group of 16 who had arrived for a week-long stay at the outdoor activities centre only that morning.
- What is it like to struck by lightning?
- What are the chances of being hit by lightning?
- •How lightning can mark skin
Although 13 French departments (administrative districts) had been placed on “orange alert” for violent storms at the time, the Vienne department – where the centre is located – was not one of them. The youths and their instructor were said to be outside at the time.
Psychological support was being offered to those affected by the incident, officials said.
Source: Bbc
