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Another cyclist killed by lightning

Started by vernon levy · · Last activity · 4 posts · 584 views

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UK and Europe
Published
1 June 2004
Last activity
5 June 2004
Original author
vernon levy
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  1. Original post
    vernon levy
    Archived post
    #1

    As well as cycling, one of my other hobbies is free flight aeromodelling
    i.e. flying without radio control. I have just learned that a prominent
    modeller was killed on Sunday at Barkston Heath, an RAF air base whilst
    recovering his plane by bycicle.

    This should reinforce the need to dismount and seek shelter in thundery
    weather. I've experienced a thunderstorm at Barkstone and it wasn't a
    pleasant experience as an airbase by its very nature has very few places to
    take shelter and it's all too easy to be the highest object for several
    hundred metres. I had advance warning of the impending storm as I was
    receiving electric shocks through the metal lines of a control line
    plane....I was effectively flying a 60' long lightning conductor and the
    storm hit 15 minutes after my first shocks, I'd packed up immediately and
    retreated to the car within minutes of the shocks. I just wonder if there
    was much warning of the storm and how much notice the modellers took. Some
    of them are *so* competitive that they take unecessary risks

    Don't take risks with thunder storms it's gamble that I'll no longer take as
    I don't feel as invulnerable as I used to as a feckless youth :-)

    Here's the report of the incident.

    "It is with great sadness that we inform you of a tragic accident which
    occurred at the Free Flight Nationals on Sunday 30th May.

    Peter Harris from Kidderminster who was a very well known and respected
    member of the Free Flight community was cycling across the airfield during a
    very sudden and violent thunderstorm when he was struck by lightning. First
    aid was administered at the scene and an ambulance crew arrived within
    minutes to take Peter to hospital in Grantham. Sadly, Peter died of his
    injuries.

    Report
  2. Simon Mason
    Archived post
    #2

    "vernon levy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    As well as cycling, one of my other hobbies is free flight aeromodelling
    i.e. flying without radio control. I have just learned that a prominent
    modeller was killed on Sunday at Barkston Heath, an RAF air base whilst
    recovering his plane by bycicle.

    This was the same bloke in my earlier post, there was only cyclist killed
    recently.
    --
    Simon M.

    Report
  3. Sue
    Archived post
    #3

    In message <[email hidden]>, vernon levy
    <[email hidden]> writes

    Quoted message said:


    This should reinforce the need to dismount and seek shelter in thundery
    weather. I've experienced a thunderstorm at Barkstone and it wasn't a
    pleasant experience as an airbase by its very nature has very few places to
    take shelter and it's all too easy to be the highest object for several
    hundred metres.

    LIghtning strikes build up to the moment of discharge; the target patch
    of ground develops an opposite charge which is then neutralised by the
    strike.
    Lightning experts advise that if you feel tingling and your hair stands
    on end, the spot you're standing on is about to be hit, and you should
    run away as fast as possible. On a bicycle in the middle of a airfield
    you should have no difficulty making your escape.

    I'm told a lightning conductor protects only a 45-degree cone around its
    tip, and anything further away can still be hit. That's why church
    towers with square tops generally have four or five of them, while a
    steeple only needs one.
    A conductor less than two metres tall (you) would not attract strikes
    from hundreds of metres away, or even several metres. This means you'd
    be extremely unlucky to be hit, even standing in the open, but it's
    still bound to happen sometime.

    Furthermore, the unfortunate modeller was elderly; a fit younger chap in
    Sussex a few years ago was very little injured when struck while
    cycling. A Canadian park ranger has survived three lightning strikes,
    albeit with injuries caused by being thrown off a motor cycle!

    So save your anxiety for the carnage on our roads...

    --
    Sue ];(🙂

    Report
  4. Simon Mason
    Archived post
    #4

    Sue <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Lightning experts advise that if you feel tingling and your hair stands
    on end, the spot you're standing on is about to be hit, and you should
    run away as fast as possible. On a bicycle in the middle of a airfield
    you should have no difficulty making your escape.

    Assuming you can cycle faster than a lightning bolt! It's not that
    spot that is going to be hit, it's you. Experts advise assuming a
    crouching postion thus->

    http://www.kidslightning.info/lsaftposi.htm

    "If you are isolated in a level field or prairie and you feel your
    hair stand on end (which indicates that lightning is about to strike),
    bend forward, putting your hands on your knees. A position with feet
    together and crouching while removing all metal objects is
    recommended. Do not lie flat on the ground"

    http://www.fema.gov/hazards/thunderstorms/thunderf.shtm

    You can also see two brothers with their hair on end here, just
    before they were killed.

    http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/cae/svrwx/ltg.htm

    --
    Simon M.

    Report

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