Golfer fighting for life after being struck by lightning

An Australian man is fighting for his life after being struck by lightning whilst playing golf on Sunday.  

The Daily Mail is reporting that the accident happening around 2.30pm local time at Wantima Golf Course in north Brisbane. 

Emergency services rushed to the scene and transferred the man to the Royal Brisbane and Woman’s Hospital.  

In a statement, the Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed the reports, adding that the unnamed patient is in a “critical condition”. 

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Storms have battered Queensland throughout the weekend, with more than 5,000 properties across the south-east of the state losing power as a result.  

Whilst rare, there have been numerous instances of golfers being struck by lighting whilst on the course, with some tour pros having even having experienced it.  

Six-time major champion Lee Trevino was struck during the 1975 Western Open, suffering spinal injuries that would plague him for the rest of his career. 

“When people say that everything flashes in front of you, your whole life, it really does,” he later said. “I started thinking about my wife and family before I blacked out.” 

Another multiple major champion, South African Retief Goosen, almost died when he was struck whiolst playing golf with a friend in 1985 when he was just 15.  

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The torn remains of the clothes he was wearing that day are now on display at the World Golf Hall of Fame.  

The two-time US Open champion spent six days in hospital but, remarkably, was back on the golf course within three weeks. The incident left him was partial hearing loss in his left ear and an irregular heartbeat.  

What to do if there is a lightning storm whilst you are on the golf course

Golf insurance specialists Golf Care recommend the following action if you find yourself stuck on the golf course during an electrical storm…

– If there is a risk of lightning, don’t go out. If you’re already on the course, you must stop playing.

– Do NOT seek shelter under a tree. Lightning strikes the tallest objects.

– If you can, move to the clubhouse or another building near your location to find shelter indoors.

– Avoid contact with electrical devices and metal. This means do NOT seek shelter in the golf buggy, don’t touch your golf clubs, umbrella or mobile phone and stay away from metal fencing.

– If you’re in an open area and can’t get to any building or car for shelter, then squat down with your hands on your knees and your head tucked between them. If you feel a tingling sensation in your hair or on your skin, drop to this position immediately. Try to touch as little of the ground as possible with your body. This makes you the smallest target possible for the lighting. Do NOT lie on the ground.

– Don’t lean against concrete walls.

– Avoid water and find a low-lying open place which is far from trees and metal objects.

– Don’t rush back out onto the course straight away. Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning flash before resuming play, as over half of lightning deaths occur after the storm has passe.