Central coast man in critical condition after 'blue sky' lightning strike
By Charles Rushforth
By Ben Clifford
ABC Central Coast
Topic:Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents
Posted , updated
Emergency services were called to Ettalong Beach yesterday after a swimmer was struck by lightning. (Supplied)
In short:
A man struck by lightning on the New South Wales Central Coast remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Bystanders pulled the man from the water at Ettalong Beach yesterday afternoon.
What's next?
More thunderstorms are forecast across NSW today.
A man is in a critical but stable condition at a Sydney hospital after a "blue sky" lightning strike on the Central Coast yesterday afternoon.
The man, believed to be in his 20s, was swimming at Ettalong Beach when he was struck about 3:00pm.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said bystanders pulled the man from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
Brandon Duffy witnessed the "chaotic" scene after arriving shortly after the strike for a morning swim.
"They were commencing CPR when I arrived. There were a lot of bystanders looking on," he said.
"People were very concerned. When the lightning strike happened, it was pretty clear."
The man was taken to Gosford Hospital by ambulance, but has been moved to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical but stable condition.
The incident follows severe storms across Greater Sydney, resulting in about 250 calls for help across NSW.
Taylor Lee Quimby said she was visiting the beach with her three children on Saturday when she heard a "massive bang" about 200 metres away.
"We were shocked it was so loud, considering none of the dark clouds were above us," she said.
"All along the beach was so sunny."
Emergency services attended the beach to assist the man after the lightning strike. (Supplied: @nswccincidentalerts)
Arriving home a short time later, Ms Quimby said she was shocked to learn that someone had been struck by lightning despite the clear skies.
"My youngest is seven months old. She was laying with my eldest son under the umbrella on the beach when it happened," she said.
"Realistically, it could have been any of us."
Senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology, Sarah Scully said "blue sky" lightning strikes have been recorded up to 30 kilometres away from the nearest storm system.
"[Blue sky lightning] develops because thunderstorms are really really tall, sometimes they push up to 30,000 feet into the atmosphere," Ms Scully said.
"Lightning can occasionally shoot out at the top and travel through the clear air before it strikes the ground, sometimes 15 to 30 kilometres away."
More thunderstorms across NSW are expected today, with the weather bureau forecasting potentially dangerous storm cells across the state's Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.
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