When lightning strikes twice, initial victims and their rescue team
In the Fribourg canton of Switzerland, a police officer and helicopter pilot rushing to aid victims of previous lightning were themselves struck by lightning.
-
An undated picture of a lightning strike (AFP via Getty Images)
In an unusual and unfortunate series of events, a lightning strike incident in Menieres, a town in the western canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, resulted in injuries of two individuals on Friday.
A 51-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were working in a field around 8.30 am when they were struck by lightning. Both sustained injuries, with the older man being seriously affected. They were promptly attended to by ambulance and rescue helicopter teams before being transported to the hospital for further medical care.
However, during the rescue operation, an unforeseen turn of events occurred when a police officer and the helicopter pilot involved in assisting the injured were also struck by lightning. Fortunately, they escaped injury and received immediate aid from the ambulance personnel at the scene.
It's noteworthy that this incident follows another lightning strike in the same region, where a 27-year-old woman was seriously injured. The situation highlights the unpredictability and potentially dangerous nature of lightning, even for those responding to provide assistance.