A man struck indirectly by lightning Tuesday in View Royal is recovering.
But one of his first stops Wednesday B次元官网网址� after being discharged from hospital Tuesday night B次元官网网址� was the View Royal Fire Hall to thank the firefighters that came to his aid.
B次元官网网址淗e said it was like going through the worst workout,B次元官网网址� said acting Fire Chief Rob Marshall, adding doctors told the man that when he was struck all the muscles in his body contracted at once.
B次元官网网址淗e was in extreme pain,B次元官网网址� Marshall said when crews arrived on scene but was conscious and talking.
The man was filling a propane tank at Fort Victoria RV Park when the lightning struck a nearby tree. Marshall estimated he was roughly five to 10 feet away from the tree and B次元官网网址渋t went to ground and energized the ground.B次元官网网址�
Despite the intense pain, Marshall noted the man was able to get up, disconnect the propane tank he was filling and turn off his service vehicle before crews arrived. B次元官网网址淲e couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe he was able to do all that B次元官网网址� he got struck by lightning and his first thought was the safety of those around him.B次元官网网址�
Marshall and the rest of the staff at the fire hall actually heard the thunder and saw the flash at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. In fact, he said they originally thought the hall had been struck and were outside inspecting the structure when they were paged out. Luckily, Fort Victoria is located across the street from the hall. B次元官网网址淚t was really the perfect storm,B次元官网网址� Marshall said, noting the hallB次元官网网址檚 location and also the close proximity of Victoria General Hospital.
B次元官网网址淟ightning on the Island is a rare occurrence, let alone someone getting struck,B次元官网网址� he added.
While he said View Royal crews are occasionally paged out for lightning strikes, itB次元官网网址檚 usually in rural areas and due to the possibility for wildfires but B次元官网网址渘ever anywhere in a populated area or for someone getting hit by it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a freak accident.B次元官网网址�
According to the Canadian Red Cross, lightning strikes kill or injure an estimated 120 to 190 people in Canada each year.
It kills more people than hail, wind, rain and tornadoes combined and a lightning bolt carries up to 100 million volts of electricity.
