Lightning injures 4 roofers near Calgary Airport

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Digital writers
theweathernetwork.com

Thursday, August 11, 2016, 11:19 AM - Four workers on a metal roof near Alberta's Calgary airport were injured by a lightning strike Wednesday afternoon, first responders report.

Lightning struck a building on Palmer Road around 2 p.m. local time, according to Carol Henke with the Calgary Fire Department.

EMS assessed the four workers on scene and transported two to hospital in stable condition. All injuries were not life-threatening with three listed in "green" condition and one in "yellow" condition, Henke told CBC.

The green designation means the patient may need medical care at some point, but not urgently. Yellow means the patient is seriously hurt and requires observation, however, they are not in immediate danger of death.

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man about 150 feet away was also assessed and sent to hospital after being hit by lightning.

The roofing crew was wrapping up their patching project on Palmer Road when the storm rolled through the area. Daniel Ludwig was one of the crew members injured.

"There was a flash and I hit the roof deck," Ludwig told Metro News. "The other guys were on the roof deck and we hauled ass and rain."

All crew members were able to climb down the roof to safety, according to Ludwig.

"It felt like somebody cracked me in the head with a baseball bat," he told Metro News.

Prior to being struck on the roof, Ludwig was hit by lightning before on a fishing trip.

While lightning strikes during a storm are not uncommon, having multiple victims is, according to EMS spokesperson Nat Pike.

"To have four people, and a fifth one nearby, that's a little surprising," Pike told Metro News. "Regardless of how immediate your work feels that it may be, when thunder roars get indoors, there's nothing that's worth the risk."

The lightning strike came during another day of active weather on the Prairies. Rainfall warnings covered parts of Alberta Wednesday as localized flooding impacted some communities. Severe thunderstorm warnings were also in effect for southern Saskatchewan. The storms prompted a tornado warning for areas northwest of Moose Jaw. Funnel clouds were also reported in the region.

Thursday's storm risk covers Alberta, parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba with a chance for isolated severe storms to develop.