French man hospitalised after being hit by lightning

Local emergency services initially treated the victim on the beach in Castelló d'Empúries, in northern Catalonia, before sending him to the hospital by ambulance.

CNA

August 13, 2010 09:23 PM

Castelló d'Empúries (ACN) .- A French man is in the hospital in critical condition after being hit by lightning while he was on a beach in Castelló d'Empúries, in north-eastern Catalonia. The accident happened this Thursday afternoon, just before a heavy rain storm affected the area.


The man was struck by lightning as he was leaving the beach. The accident occurred very near to the lifeguard’s area, so the man received first-aid almost immediately. He suffered a cardiac arrest, but the medical staff did manage to resuscitate him and he was sent by ambulance to the hospital, where he is in critical condition.

The mayor of Castelló d'Empúries, Salvi Güell, said that the man was really “unlucky” to be hit by lighting. Güell explained that this particular beach, which is called La Rubina, is especially dangerous when there are thunderstorms.