Tourist critical after lightning hit
February 20, 2005
From: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12312303-26618,00.html
AN Irish tourist was struck by lightning on Bondi Beach as wild electrical storms lashed Sydney.
The 29-year-old man suffered a heart attack when he was struck about 5pm (AEDT) yesterday, police said.
His friends gave him CPR until paramedics arrived.
He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital with internal and external burns and was today in a critical condition.
This morning the post-storm clean-up was continuing across Sydney and the New South Wales central coast.
Energy companies worked through the night to restore power to more than 44,000 Sydney homes affected by the storm.
The State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 650 calls for assistance as fallen powerlines and trees blocked roads and hit houses.
An Integral Energy spokeswoman said 35,000 of the company's customers were blacked out, centred around the Hills district in Sydney's northwest.
"It's been caused by the storm, lightning strikes hitting the lines," she said.
"Crews will be working through the night and into tomorrow, but I can't say when everyone will be back up and running.
An EnergyAustralia spokesman said 9000 houses were without power across other parts of Sydney at the storm's peak. A further 6000 blackouts were reported in Newcastle.
The wild weather also caused havoc on the roads, with an accident reported in Acacia Gardens, in Sydney's northwest, and a pedestrian hit in Wiley Park. The condition of the victim was unknown.
An SES spokesman said anyone experiencing problems should call the SES for assistance.
"The first thing to do is keep away from any trees or fallen power lines but give the State Emergency Service a call on 132 500 and we will get somebody out there as soon as possible to assess the situation," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 23mm of rain in the city in the six hours to 10pm (AEDT) last night.
This was followed by Richmond with 20.6mm, Penrith with 18.4mm, Homebush with 14.2mm and Bankstown with 9.8mm.
The weather bureau has forecast more showers and thunderstorms today.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for central western NSW, Riverina and the Southern Tablelands. Major locations within the warning area include Condobolin, Orange, Parkes, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Young, Cowra, Temora and Wyalong.
The storms were likely to produce flash flooding, large hailstones and strong winds, the Bureau of Meteorology said.