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9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:00 am
by Stickers
Very sad news coming out of Blackpool this evening that a nine year old boy has died after apparently being struck by lightning whilst football training for spirit of youth football club in between Blackpool and St Annes.
Our thoughts go out to his family and friends in what must be the hardest of times.
Having been on the beach at St Annes with the kids this afternoon after school, we cut our walk short at the sight of some quite impending looking skies and first flash of lightning about 4.40pm. We drove past spirit of youth as normal on our way home and had just arrived home when the heavens opened in a 5 minute torrent on a otherwise pleasant day.
Hard to comprehend how setting out after school to do the thing you love can end in such tragedy.
RIP little kicker
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:11 am
by Holmeclaret
Heartbreaking this. A little lad goes out to kick a ball and doesn’t come home.
RIP son.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:38 am
by beddie
Absolutely awful news, you just can't put into words the sadness of it all. The poor little lad goes off to training and doesn't come home. The parents will be going through hell. My thoughts are with them all today, especially the little boy.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:47 am
by DCWat
That’s awful news
I can’t begin the think how his family must be feeling and indeed all of those who were there at the time.
Poor little chap. Life can be so bloody cruel!
Rest in peace little man.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:04 am
by Bosscat
Terrible news ... thoughts with parents and family
RIP
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:06 am
by claretonthecoast1882
Horrendous news, can't imagine what his family are going through
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:07 am
by huw.Y.WattfromWare
RIp, young un. Heartbreaking news.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 9:13 am
by BurnleyFC
Absolutely tragic news. My most favourite thing to do in the world is to take my 9-year-old lad to football training. It’s so sobering to think that it could’ve happened to any one of us.
RIP, young man.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 9:40 am
by Billy Balfour
Awful news.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 9:48 am
by NottsClaret
Terrible story. Came from nowhere yesterday, one minute it was a cool, cloudy evening then literally 5 minutes later there was a huge electrical storm right overhead.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 9:59 am
by Burnley1989
Awful, it really is, my heart goes out to the family.
Can’t imagine how difficult it will be for all that witnessed it as well.
I was once playing golf up marsden in the thunder and lightening (stupid I know) the handle on the umbrella in my hand suddenly felt like I was holding a crisp packet, scared the life out of me. Obviously, I wasn’t hit directly by lightning but it was electric in the air. I haven’t ever looked it up and sounds made up when I write this but it’s certainly not.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 10:16 am
by tiger76
A tragic event condolences to the family.
RIP young man.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 10:49 am
by Juan Tanamera
Dreadful news.
My heartfelt condolences to the poor boys family.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 11:51 am
by Inchy
Awful news, boy lad.
I ran the whalfedale 3 peaks on Monday with a pal. The weather was brilliant for the most part however with 1.5 miles to go the sky turned black and it started hailing. Next minute thunder and lighting started. It occurred to me that I was on an open moorside and probably the tallest thing around for a fair distance. I legged it down the fell side into kettlewell, with about half a mile to go I all of a sudden felt the static in the air. It’s hard to describe what it feels like but it was bloody frightening. The next second I saw a flash of light and a crack so loud it sounded like a bomb had gone off next to my ear. My ear instantly started ringing. That made me run even quicker. When I got back to the car my mate who was about 200 yards behind me when I felt the static said he thought I’d been hit. He said the whole of my waterproof jacket illuminated.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 11:55 am
by evensteadiereddie
That sounds like a very near do, Inchy.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 12:10 pm
by ClaretTony
Heartbreaking news
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 12:40 pm
by Burnley1989
Inchy wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:51 am
Awful news, boy lad.
I ran the whalfedale 3 peaks on Monday with a pal. The weather was brilliant for the most part however with 1.5 miles to go the sky turned black and it started hailing. Next minute thunder and lighting started. It occurred to me that I was on an open moorside and probably the tallest thing around for a fair distance. I legged it down the fell side into kettlewell, with about half a mile to go I all of a sudden felt the static in the air. It’s hard to describe what it feels like but it was bloody frightening. The next second I saw a flash of light and a crack so loud it sounded like a bomb had gone off next to my ear. My ear instantly started ringing. That made me run even quicker. When I got back to the car my mate who was about 200 yards behind me when I felt the static said he thought I’d been hit. He said the whole of my waterproof jacket illuminated.
Jeeeez mate
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:02 pm
by jdrobbo
Terrible news. So sad. What has made it even harder to take is that my little nephew was due to play on the same pitch just one hour later! Can’t imagine what the family must be experiencing right now.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:11 pm
by Leisure
I'm involved with junior football teams so would appreeciate some information/advice as to just what you should do if you're out in an open space and you see/hear lightening?
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:19 pm
by Loyalclaret
Heartbreaking.
Not an expert Pete but heard them talking about it on the radio this morning. Firstly if you know its coming get out the way to a safer environment where you are not the tallest object. They described the static feel in the air mentioned by some posters above. If you are the tallest thing, they suggested getting onto knees, head down near kness and hands over the head.
Not sure how practical that is. I was out yesterday and went to shelter under a tree briefly then remembered you shouldn't, got soaked in the rain.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:27 pm
by wilks_bfc
Leisure wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 1:11 pm
I'm involved with junior football teams so would appreeciate some information/advice as to just what you should do if you're out in an open space and you see/hear lightening?
I’m also involved in GRF and this is doing the rounds on the groups I’m in
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36608210
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:34 pm
by MrTopTier
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 1:56 pm
by Leisure
Cheers. Much appreciated.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 2:16 pm
by WadingInDeeper
Dreadful news, to drop your child off and never see them is just awful.
We were working in the open early in the week, when from nowhere found ourselves in the heart of a thunderstorm, just as we were holding metal equipment in the ground. We stopped and waited for it to pass, but we had no idea a storm was coming it was so sudden.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 3:04 pm
by NewClaret
One of the most upsetting stories I've ever heard, made worse by the fact I first read it just after returning home with my 9 year old from football training during a thunderstorm. My heartfelt condolences to to his family. I can't even begin to imagine their pain. RIP.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 3:19 pm
by NewClaret
Inchy wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:51 am
Awful news, boy lad.
I ran the whalfedale 3 peaks on Monday with a pal. The weather was brilliant for the most part however with 1.5 miles to go the sky turned black and it started hailing. Next minute thunder and lighting started. It occurred to me that I was on an open moorside and probably the tallest thing around for a fair distance. I legged it down the fell side into kettlewell, with about half a mile to go I all of a sudden felt the static in the air. It’s hard to describe what it feels like but it was bloody frightening. The next second I saw a flash of light and a crack so loud it sounded like a bomb had gone off next to my ear. My ear instantly started ringing. That made me run even quicker. When I got back to the car my mate who was about 200 yards behind me when I felt the static said he thought I’d been hit. He said the whole of my waterproof jacket illuminated.
Unbelievably scary.
I was running on a fell on Monday, when a storm hit out of nowhere. I had only packed my waterproof away about 30 seconds before because it was bright sunshine! Within seconds the already saturated moorland turned in to a bog, and I was ankle deep in water, when I heard the thunder rolling directly ahead. I crouched by a wall until it had passed and then ran home as fast as I could. I didn't know you feel static before a strike but if you did and your jacket lit up I'd say you've had a very lucky escape mate. I'd have needed a change of shorts before my drive home!
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 5:31 pm
by Hipper
Inchy wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:51 am
Awful news, boy lad.
I ran the whalfedale 3 peaks on Monday with a pal. The weather was brilliant for the most part however with 1.5 miles to go the sky turned black and it started hailing. Next minute thunder and lighting started. It occurred to me that I was on an open moorside and probably the tallest thing around for a fair distance. I legged it down the fell side into kettlewell, with about half a mile to go I all of a sudden felt the static in the air. It’s hard to describe what it feels like but it was bloody frightening. The next second I saw a flash of light and a crack so loud it sounded like a bomb had gone off next to my ear. My ear instantly started ringing. That made me run even quicker. When I got back to the car my mate who was about 200 yards behind me when I felt the static said he thought I’d been hit. He said the whole of my waterproof jacket illuminated.
Had a similar experience.
I was refereeing a football match on a pitch, one of fifty or so at the back of Wormwood Scrubs, Acton. The sky came over that pinkish purple colour that signifies a threat and we started to get hail. Then there was a flash of lighting and I felt that static in my hair. I told the players that I was going in and advised they should do the same. When I came back out they were still playing and it was still eleven aside! Whether they thought I was a wimp or not I didn't care. It was simply not worth the risk.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:11 pm
by burnmark
Horrendous news and apart from this thread I’ve purposefully not read into the incident in great detail as it is far too upsetting.
Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. My heart also goes out to his coaches.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:15 pm
by Elizabeth
I’m sad
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 8:56 pm
by icu81b4
The little lad (Jordon) was a Liverpool fan, and this evening the Liverpool squad warmed up with his name and number (7) on their shirts as a sign of respect.
I was watching the storm and saw the lightning bolts descend to the ground, very sad to later discover this sad news.
I’ve been hit by lightning, but as I was sat in my car it acted like a faraday cage and I was unharmed, although somewhat stunned by the light and static.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 11:10 am
by Steve1956
Nice touch from the club RIP Little fella
- FB_IMG_1621073312413.jpg (74.72 KiB) Viewed 2466 times
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 11:12 am
by Boss Hogg
Nice to see a minute’s silence impeccably observed at my son’s junior football match today for this young lad. This is nowhere near Blackpool either.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 12:41 pm
by wilks_bfc
We had a minutes silence at our u11 game this morning
We were in our change shirt, but our number seven came upto me beforehand with holding his home shirt and asked to lay it on the center spot for the minute which was a lovely touch
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 2:14 pm
by ClaretTony
Loyalclaret wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 1:19 pm
Heartbreaking.
I was out yesterday and went to shelter under a tree briefly then remembered you shouldn't, got soaked in the rain.
John White, the great inside forward in the Spurs double team sheltered under a tree during a thunderstorm while playing golf and was killed by a lightning strike.
I was hit once playing cricket but was fortunate. It felt as if someone had punched me in the back of the neck.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 5:09 pm
by yTib
ClaretTony wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 2:14 pm
I was hit once playing cricket but was fortunate. It felt as if someone had punched me in the back of the neck.
you actually got struck by lightning?
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 5:22 pm
by ClaretTony
yTib wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 5:09 pm
you actually got struck by lightning?
Yes, but as said it felt just like a punch but it left a mark on the back of my neck. I wasn’t the only one on the field at the time either. We came straight off and soon after the rain came.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 5:47 pm
by yTib
good gracious. i've been nearby a lightning strike but luckily i was indoors and the strike was in the garden.
Re: 9yr old footballer struck by lightning
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 11:22 pm
by tim_noone
Amazing scenes from Blackpool today ...Stretching from Blackpool tower to St Anne's a convoy of Lorries..wagons..buses..tractors..sports cars..and dozens of Motorcycles decked out in bunting all sounding there horns an flashing Lights ...it was quite a spectacle for the young Lad. Blackpool folk Take a bow!!!
