Serious injuries from lightning strikes highlight dangers

AS the heatwave begins to cool across France, the danger posed by thunderstorms and lightning has been highlighted by an accident in the Pyrenees.

Five people, including two children, were struck by lightning whilst at a sky-park with ropes and ladders between trees, and as staff began to get people down the accident took place.

And two women were struck by lightning whilst walk on the beach on the island of Oleron, on the west coast of France, with one suffering a heart attack.

The Association Protection Foudre is a collection of businesses, researchers and scientists set up in 1993 who aim to make people aware of the dangers of thunderstorms.

There is a page offering advice, for example, there is good reason you shouldn't stand beneath a tree during a storm as it is 50 times more likely to be struck by lightning than a person standing.

Also there is a handy website that lets you track thunderstorms across France, the cartes de orages updates every fifteen minutes and you can seeing what is coming your way.