A lightning strike in South Australia has injured a school teacher and at least four children. Photo / Darryl May
ADELAIDE - A lightning strike which injured a teacher and at least four students on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula was like a bolt from the blue, the school's principal said today.
Teacher Basil Ghobrial was thrown from his feet by the strike, landing heavily on his right
side while a number of students were also sent reeling.
Mr Ghobrial drifted in and out of consciousness as he was taken to the Port Broughton Hospital along with several students.
While his condition improved, Mr Ghobrial remained in hospital overnight along with four students who were discharged this morning. A number of other students were sent home after treatment.
The lightning strike came as thunderstorms swept across South Australia's mid-north yesterday causing flash flooding in some areas.
Port Broughton Area School principal Roger Nottage said teachers and students on the oval yesterday had little warning before lightning hit a tree.
"There was blue sky at the time, there had been no lightning, it was a real one-off crack," Mr Nottage told ABC radio.
"We didn't have a strong electrical storm yesterday... so it was quite a bolt out of the blue actually."
Mr Nottage said Mr Ghobrial was standing between two trees on the oval when the lightning hit one, leaving clear burn marks on the bark.
"He appeared to be thrown from where he was standing and landed on his right side," the principal said.
"He's indicated he's pretty sore down that right side."
Mr Ghobrial remained under observation today but was reported to be in good spirits. He appeared to have suffered no burns and no head injuries.
The State Emergency Service (SES) said Kadina and Moonta, on Yorke Peninsula, were among the hardest hit in the storms with 20 homes and buildings flooded.
Other towns battered by the storms included Crystal Brooke, Clare and Burra.
A 50mm deluge in just 30 minutes in Crystal Brooke forced the evacuation of the local caravan park.
The Bureau of Meteorology said storms were reported in an area stretching from Oodnadatta, in SA's north, to as far south as Pt Wakefield, about 100 kilometres north of Adelaide.
- AAP
