Two lifeguards taken to hospital after a lightning strike did not suffer any wounds, an Irish water safety expert has said.
The incident on Banna beach in Co Kerry occurred shortly before 4pm on Saturday.
A Yellow weather warning for Kerry and surrounding counties was issued by Met Eireann at 1.30pm on Saturday, but the lifeguards were still attempting to clear people from the water when the strike happened.
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Water Safety Ireland deputy CEO Roger Sweeney said: “Thankfully both Lifeguards are fine, with no entry or exit wounds. The lightning strike happened on Banna beach in Kerry shortly before 4pm. The lifeguards had observed flashes of lightning on the horizon.
“They were in the process of clearing the water of people when a strike occurred on the beach, close to both lifeguards.
“They did not suffer any wounds and were taken by ambulance to hospital where they are being monitored.
“The beach was closed and Banna Rescue, a local voluntary search and rescue unit which is one of the Community Rescue Boats of Ireland, did a great job in continuing to clear the water and sand of visitors.
“All lifeguarded beaches in North Kerry were closed as a precaution.”
Video on social media showed flooding in streets across the Kingdom, with a Dunnes Stores in Tralee being evacuated following intense rainfall. University Hospital Kerry said it had been impacted by flooding and a number of areas had closed, with people being advised only to come to the hospital in case of emergency.
Mr Sweeney advised against being in or near large bodies of water during the type of weather conditions expected in many areas of Ireland.
He said: “If you are in a thunderstorm, cancel any plans to go swimming and if you are swimming, get to shore as quickly as possible, as water conducts electricity, in much the same way as metal pipes and phone lines.”
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