Lightning strikes children's birthday party, several injured

Saturday, May 28, 2016, 2:54 PM - Officials say at least 11 people are injured after lightning struck a birthday party in Parc Monceau in France Saturday.

The victims including, eight children and three adults, sought shelter under a tree at the public park situated in the 8th arrondissement in northwest Paris.

Six of those hit were seriously injured, with four in life-threatening condition, according to Eric Moulin, Paris fire service spokesman.

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At the time of the incident an off-duty firefighter visiting a nearby museum rushed over to the scene and saw eight children and three adults lying on the ground. He administered first aid, CPR and helped direct rescuers to the scene, Moulin said. The victims were taken to nearby Necker hospital in southwest Paris.

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"He saw who was the most seriously wounded. He did a quick triage of the victims. He did first aid. He alerted the rescue services, Moulin told The Associated Press. "Without his actions, it would have been much worse."

Police say the children injured are all around the age of 9 years old.

Bystander Jean-Louis Laurens who lives near the park said the wild storm was rare to see in the French capital.

"It was dramatic," Laurens told Associated Press.

Meanwhile, lightning also hit a children's football match in Hoppstädten, Germany Saturday. Over 30 people were injured in the incident.

In mid-May, lightning killed more than 50 people in Bangladash amid severe thunderstorms that followed a long heat wave.

SOURCE: Associated Press

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