A lightning strike on a group of five hikers descending Mount Giewont in Poland resulted in injuries to two individuals on Friday, May 15. The incident occurred around 1:00 PM local time, as the hikers were navigating the area near the summit.
According to Grzegorz Kubicki, a rescuer with the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue (TOPR), emergency services received reports of the lightning strike during a thunderstorm. Kubicki noted,
“Two individuals were injured, including one who sustained serious injuries and temporarily lost consciousness. Rescuers from TOPR arrived on the scene and airlifted the most severely injured person to a hospital in Zakopane.”
The second injured individual suffered less severe injuries and was transported down the mountain by rescuers, with plans to also take them to the hospital in Zakopane. The remaining three members of the group were unharmed.
Prior to the incident, the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management had issued a storm warning for thirteen provinces across the country, indicating heightened weather risks in the region.
A lightning strike injured two hikers on Mount Giewont in Poland, prompting a rescue operation. One individual was severely injured and airlifted to a hospital, while another suffered lighter injuries.