Swimmer in critical condition after lightning strike at Central Coast beach
A man was struck by lightning while swimming in sunny conditions and remains in critical but stable state.
Reported by The Sydney Morning HeraldAlso reported by 9News, The Age.
ShareWhy it matters
Shows how lightning can strike with little warning even on seemingly safe days, and highlights the speed of bystander and emergency response that likely saved the swimmer's life.
In Australia. Reminds NSW beach-goers that dangerous weather can develop rapidly on warm days, even when skies appear clear overhead.
Key facts
- Just before 4pm Saturday
- Time of strike
- Umina Beach, NSW Central Coast
- Location
- 6 degrees above November average
- Temperature
- Ed Alvarez
- Witness
- A man was struck by lightning while swimming at Umina Beach on the NSW Central Coast on Saturday afternoon, despite clear skies overhead.
- Bystanders pulled him from the water just before 4pm and he was taken by road ambulance to Gosford Hospital, then transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital.
- The man remains in critical but stable condition.
- The lightning came from a storm brewing toward Palm Beach while the swimmers' location had sunny, clear skies.
- Witness Ed Alvarez said the strike "came out of nowhere".
- Emergency services responded quickly to get him to hospital.
