Trains and traffic brought to a crawl as summer storm sweeps through city
Updated ,first published
The grandmother of a teenage girl who was hospitalised on Thursday morning after she was struck by lightning was “worried about missing a day of school” due to her injuries.
Two teenage girls, believed to be 15 and 16 years old, were in Mount Helena at Eastern Hills Senior High School when they were struck.
One girl’s grandmother told radio 6PR they had been on the basketball court of the school when the lightning hit a pole.
“Apparently, when she was struck it went through her spine and rattled her spine,” the woman said.
The girls received some bruising in the incident, and were treated by St John paramedics at the school.
They were both taken to hospital for assessment, and the girl’s grandmother said she had since come home.
“She’s in a little bit of pain … so she’s just [staying] home with painkillers and resting up. And yes, she does have the day off tomorrow,” she said.
“She was worried about not going to school because apparently there’s a class she has to do otherwise she doesn’t get credits to graduate, so she was dead-set on going to school.
“But I’ve said, ‘No, no, I’m sure the teachers will credit you that anyway’.”
A man in his 70s was also taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital after he was hit while walking his dog on Felstead Street in Hamersley just after 8.30am.
Michael Day’s daughter spoke to media on Thursday, and showed them a Bunnings umbrella and his clothing that had been torched by the strike.
His phone and keys were also burnt.
While Day’s serious injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, his dog died at the scene.
St John Ambulance special operations manager Dean Coxall said lightning strikes that hit people were “incredibly rare” in WA.
“I’ve been in this job almost 15 years, and I’ve never heard of that happening, especially here in Western Australia,” he said.
“It is an incredibly unfortunate and unlikely event.”
Coxall said lightning strikes could impact people’s hearts, brains and even cause burns at the strike’s entry and exit points.
He said paramedics also had to be aware of the dangers surrounding lightning storms when tending to patients, including fallen power lines and trees.
“Lightning strikes account for about 24,000 deaths worldwide every year,” he said.
“We don’t see them as much here in Western Australia, and I think we’re pretty lucky in that regard.”
Coxall said special operations paramedics had worked well in the conditions, and thanked the state command operations centre and those in the critical care team who attended the incidents.
Planes, trains and automobiles delayed by thunderstorm
Meanwhile, the storm spelled havoc for Perth commuters after the city woke to thunder and heavy rain on Thursday.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said isolated thunderstorms developed through the early hours of Thursday morning off the coast, moving across land and the Perth metropolitan area around 6am.
As of 8am, Jandakot had recorded the highest rainfall with 0.8 millimetres. The Perth Metro gauge had recorded 0.4 millimetres.
But a deluge of rain, which hit about 8.20am, bumped those numbers up.
“These storms are being driven by a deepening west coast trough in the vicinity,” the bureau spokesperson said.
“The slight chance of a passing storm continues today as the trough lingers in the area.
“A top of 29 degrees is forecast for Perth with low intensity heatwaves ongoing in the area. It should be a mostly sunny day overall, with this passing chance of a shower or storm.”
The weather made for a frustratingly long commute into the city – especially for those travelling by train.
Trains were cancelled on the Mandurah line between Elizabeth Quay and Aubin Grove due to a technical issue, with rail replacement buses running.
“Train replacement buses are running between Elizabeth Quay and Aubin Grove. Please allow extra travelling time and be aware that replacement buses may not connect with timetabled bus and train services,” a Transperth statement read.
“Trains will continue to run between Perth Underground and Elizabeth Quay, and between Aubin Grove and Mandurah.”
Meanwhile, passengers on the Yanchep line were told by a train driver that the rain and lightning was “wreaking havoc on the network”.
Others are being told to disembark from the carriages.
Eight flights out of Perth Airport were delayed by the wild weather.
“The delays were due to staff not being permitted onto the airfield during the thunderstorms for safety reasons,” and airport spokesperson said.
Operations at the airport have since returned to normal.
Western Power said outages were at a “standard level”, but there were reports on social media pole-top fires caused by electricity travelling across poles during light rain, mist, or high humidity.
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Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.
