Child fights for his life after being struck by lightning during a violent storm in south-east Queensland
A child struck by lightning during a fierce storm system that rages across south-east Queensland is fighting for his life in hospital.
The 10-year-old girl was struck during the storm at a private property on Clarkes Rd in Beerwah, on the Sunshine Coast, about 2.30pm, the Courier-Mail reported.
Intensive care paramedics took the child to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.
It comes as record-breaking damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain wreak havoc across south-east Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued several severe weather warnings since the storms began moving across the region on Friday.
A child is in critical condition after being struck by lightning during heavy storms in south-east Queensland (pictured, a forecast of storms for Saturday)
A warning at 3.20pm on Saturday warned the council areas of Ipswich, Logan, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Brisbane City, Moreton Bay and Gympie could expect severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, heavy rain and flash flooding.
Four centimeter hail has already been seen in Beaudesert, west of the Gold Coast.
It follows Friday evening’s violent storms, which caused widespread damage across the region.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy said the winds measured at Archerfield, south Brisbane, were the strongest in more than 75 years.
“169km/h in Archerfield was a record compared to 143km/h in 1946,” he said.
“We only see things like that once every few years.”
Four centimeter hail was seen in Beaudesert (above) on Saturday afternoon, ahead of more storms