A woman was struck by lightning on the peak of Kriváň in the High Tatras, and suffered further injuries during the subsequent fall. The Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) informs about this on its website.
- A 48-year-old Slovak woman was struck by lightning at the top of Kriváň in the High Tatras.
- The woman suffered lacerations to her head and burns to her limbs during the subsequent fall.
- Friends treated the injured tourist on the spot and protected her from hypothermia.
- Due to the ongoing storm activity, mountain rescuers intervened only by land.
- After being transported to Štrbské pleso, the ambulance crew took over the injured.
Mountain rescuers received a request for help for a 48-year-old Slovak woman on Sunday (June 21) at noon. She was on the top of Kriván, where she was struck by lightning. “The subsequent fall caused lacerations to her head, she was bleeding from her ears and also complained of pain in her upper and lower limbs, on which she had suffered burns,” mountain rescuers say.
Her friends who were on the hike with her provided first aid on the spot. They treated and warmed her.
According to HZS, intense storm activity continued to persist in the area. Since it was not possible to deploy aviation equipment due to unfavorable weather conditions, Ground mountain rescuers from the Regional Center HZS Vysoké Tatry were heading to the patient.
“After the health condition of the injured woman improved, a group of female hikers decided to start a slow descent from the peak towards Jamské pleso, accompanied by a random tourist,” clarified the mountain rescuers, saying that after reaching the woman, they examined her, treated her and then transported her to Štrbské pleso, where she was taken into care the summoned emergency medical crew took over.
HZS strongly recommends follow the weather forecast when planning a hike, as well as its development during the hike itself.
