Sydney Lightning Storm Leaves Four Hospitalized After 75,000 Strikes

More than 75,000 lightning strikes wreaked havoc in Sydney on Monday, resulting in four individuals being hospitalized due to lightning burns. The severe thunderstorm not only caused power outages affecting homes and businesses but also sparked fires in three residences.

The storm, which unleashed 57mm of rainfall, brought about an electrical spectacle with tens of thousands of lightning bolts striking the city. Supermarkets and businesses experienced power cuts, while a trio of houses, situated in Bronte, Baulkham Hills, and Sylvania, were set ablaze.

Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry remarked on the intensity of the event, emphasizing the substantial energy and heat generated by the lightning strikes. He noted that although the situations at the fire-struck homes could have been dire, fortunately, no injuries were reported.

However, a group seeking refuge under a tree at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens encountered a terrifying ordeal as lightning struck the tree, rendering a teenage man, a woman in her 20s, and a man and woman in their 30s unconscious. The NSW Ambulance swiftly dispatched six ambulances, including specialized intensive care units, to provide on-site treatment before transporting the patients to medical facilities.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Dominic Wong revealed that all four individuals suffered brief lapses of consciousness, along with burns and cardiac symptoms. Lightning strikes can manifest in various ways, from direct hits to contact strikes and side splashes, with potential outcomes ranging from temporary paralysis to cardiac arrest.