Lightning kills camper in Eastern Ontario

As if anyone needs more examples of the power of nature, the Ottawa Citizen is reporting a 26-year-old Ottawa man was killed and several others were injured when lightning struck a campsite Sunday morning in Alfred-Plantagenet, Ontario.

The victim was taken to Hawkesbury General Hospital, where he died. Three others were hit in the same lighting strike. The campsite is owned by Rolf Garde. Those struck included Garde’s daughter, grandson and common-law son-in-law.

According to the article

The campsite where the family was staying was still mostly intact Sunday afternoon. But the tent in which the man and his wife and child slept was knocked over and had holes burnt in it.

The second tent, where the 44-year-old woman was sleeping, was still standing.

The campsite is heavily wooded and Garde said he thinks it’s strange that the lightning hit the tent and not a tree. “It’s unusual with that many trees,” Garde said. No trees near the site showed any sign of being struck.

The toddler’s grandfather indicated his grandson escaped injury.

“It’s one in a million,” he said of the incident. “The baby is totally OK. It’s a miracle. He’s the most vulnerable.”

He said his daughter’s common-law husband was a great father. “He was very friendly, humorous, soft, just a nice guy.”

In another mishap that was possibly weather-related, no one was hurt when United Express flight 3363 slid off a wet runway at 3:29 pm, at Ottawa International Airport Sunday afternoon. The plane carried 44 passengers on a flight from Chicago. The cause of that incident remains under investigation.

About that same time my husband and I were swimming and hiking at Murphy’s Point Provincial Park, near Perth, Ontario. (This wasn’t the best weekend for those activities, but that was when we had a reservation and some free time.)

One of several weather cells arrived mid-hike, with a lot of loud thunder happening above the forest canopy. At least one flash and (instant) thunderclap was uncomfortably close. By the time we returned to our campsite it had become a big puddle. We opted for the easy way out and drove home to a dry bed.

Nature is very much to be appreciated. But respected as well. Stay well, as best you can.

Tags: canada, lightning kills Ontario camper, United express flight 3363