08 January 2024 , 12:17
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Footage shows a man dropping to the ground and others fleeing after he was hit by a bolt of lightning in a park.
In the shocking clip Jonathan Beron, 26, can be seen in a park with four friends when he suddenly falls down like a stone last Saturday. He was sheltering by trees from the storm with heavy rain falling in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, in Argentina, when the incident happened.
One moment he can be seen chatting and the next he is on the ground while the people he is are running away. The lightning hit the tree and then the electricity travelled down to Mr Beron.
He was rushed to the Hospital Veronica Bailone where he was initially put in intensive care with 20 per cent burns that affected his thighs and stomach - but his condition has improved and he has now been put on a normal ward.
“The patient is stable and the situation is under control. If it continues like this then we will consider moving him to a normal ward in 24 or 48 hours” a spokesperson for the hospital initially said.
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His sister Andrea Beron has said on social media that he is “progressing well”. He has also been pictured in hospital and smiling while giving a thumbs up. Another sister Dayana Beron, speaking to local radio said: "The lightning went between him and another lad in the group, and it hit him due to a chain he had around his neck. It then left him by the left leg. When his friends came back to help him they thought he was dead."
Jonathan is recovering in hospital (elchubut.com)The city where the lightning struck had a storm alert in place and the advice for people was to avoid being out in open spaces while not to shelter below trees, reported Clarin. The British Red Cross has warned of the dangers from lightning with an average of two people killed from it each year. It states: "Thunderstorms can be frightening, with the rumblings of thunder teamed with the flashes of lightning creating a scary atmosphere. Thunder cannot hurt anyone, but lightning can be dangerous with, on average two people a year being killed in the UK."
Jonathan seen lying on the ground as his friends fled (elchubut.com)It also advises for people to shelter indoors during a storm with being under trees dangerous during a storm. "No, trees and lightning are not a good mix," it states. "While it might seem like a good idea to run to the nearest tree when you hear rumbles of thunder, it’s better to avoid them as lightning can destroy trees.
"If you are in a forest during a thunderstorm, stand as far away as possible from tall or isolated trees, which are more likely to be hit by lightning. You should also avoid sheltering in caves, under cliffs, or in open structures like porches, bus stops, and gazebos which won’t protect you."