Man, teenagers struck by lightning as storm sweeps across Perth

Paramedics say separate lightning strikes that hospitalised three people in Western Australia on Thursday morning were “incredibly rare”.

Two teenage girls were in Mount Helena at Eastern Hills Senior High School when they were impacted.

Paramedics, including those from St John Ambulance’s special operations team attended the scene.

It is understood while the girls were indirectly impacted by the lightning, they weren’t hit.

The students, believed to be 15 and 16-years-old, were taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital and Midland Hospital for treatment. It is understood they are recovering well, although one has some pain.

A man in his 70s was also taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital after he was hit while walking his dog on Felstead Street in Hamersley just after 8.30am.

He received serious injuries, but they are not believed to be life-threatening.

Paramedics also attended the scene, and special operations manager Dean Coxall said it was something they had trained for.

“I’ve been in this job almost 15 years, and I’ve never heard of that happening, especially here in Western Australia,” he said.

“It is an incredibly unfortunate and unlikely event.”

He said lightning strikes could impact people’s hearts, brains and even cause burns at the strike’s entry and exit points.

Coxall said paramedics also had to be aware of the dangers surrounding lightning storms when tending to patients, including fallen power lines and trees.

“Lightning strikes account for about 24,000 deaths worldwide every year,” he said.

“We don’t see them as much here in Western Australia, and I think we’re pretty lucky in that regard.”

He said special operations paramedics had worked well in the conditions, and thanked both the state command operations centre and those in the critical care team who attended the three incidents.

Planes, trains and automobiles delayed by thunderstorm

Meanwhile, the storm spelled havoc for Perth commuters after the city woke to thunder and heavy rain on Thursday.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said isolated thunderstorms developed through the early hours of Thursday morning off the coast, moving across land and the Perth metropolitan area around 6am.

As of 8am, Jandakot had recorded the highest rainfall with 0.8 millimetres. The Perth Metro gauge had recorded 0.4 millimetres.

But a deluge of rain, which hit about 8.20am, bumped those numbers up.

“These storms are being driven by a deepening west coast trough in the vicinity,” the bureau spokesperson said.

“The slight chance of a passing storm continues today as the trough lingers in the area.

“A top of 29 degrees is forecast for Perth with low intensity heatwaves ongoing in the area. It should be a mostly sunny day overall, with this passing chance of a shower or storm.”

The weather made for a frustratingly long commute into the city – especially for those travelling by train.

Trains were cancelled on the Mandurah line between Elizabeth Quay and Aubin Grove due to a technical issue, with rail replacement buses running.

“Train replacement buses are running between Elizabeth Quay and Aubin Grove. Please allow extra travelling time and be aware that replacement buses may not connect with timetabled bus and train services,” a Transperth statement read.

“Trains will continue to run between Perth Underground and Elizabeth Quay, and between Aubin Grove and Mandurah.”

Meanwhile, passengers on the Yanchep line were told by a train driver that the rain and lightning was “wreaking havoc on the network”.

Others are being told to disembark from the carriages.

Eight flights out of Perth Airport were delayed by the wild weather.

“The delays were due to staff not being permitted onto the airfield during the thunderstorms for safety reasons,” and airport spokesperson said.

Operations at the airport have since returned to normal.

Western Power said outages were at a “standard level”, but there were reports on social media pole-top fires caused by electricity travelling across poles during light rain, mist, or high humidity.

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