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Three-Year-Old Survives Lightning Strike

UK – A three-year-old boy had a miraculous escape after lightning struck the family home and sent exploding masonry crashing around his bed.

A bolt tore a hole in the roof of the dormer bungalow in Flint and exploded a masonry block, sending large lumps of sharp breeze block into the stairwell and into Elis Roberts’ bedroom.

Amazingly, Elis slept through the drama and his only concern was that falling masonry had crushed his favourite toy – a Dr Who Tardis.

His relieved parents yesterday spoke to the Daily Post of their shock and relief that their son had lived to tell the tale.

“We were very, very lucky,” said his mum Trish Mulreay who was still clearing up storm damage at the family’s home in Edwin Drive.

“It could have been a lot worse.”

Elis’s father Iestyn Roberts, a senior team leader at a local food factory, said: “We were all asleep, it was about 12.45 on Saturday morning when we heard something that sounded like an explosion. All the lights upstairs were off.”

With thunder and lightning storm raging outside, Iestyn got up to investigate and could smell burning. He was aware he was treading on something which had fallen onto the stairs.

“Trish thought it could have been glass from the bulbs, but my feet were not cut. I went into the kitchen for a torch and went back upstairs and could see rubble and masonry on the stairs and I thought ‘where the hell has that come from?’

“There was a hole in the top of the wall and a breeze block had exploded. The same block had gone into Elis’ room. When we could smell burning I told Trish to telephone the fire service and they said to get everyone out and wait outside. Of course the storm was still going on,” said Iestyn.

When he investigated Elis’ room, Iestyn had some anxious moments. “I saw bits of plaster and block on his bed and he was not moving! I was very relieved when he woke up.

Trish said: “His main concern was that his Tardis model we bought him had been crushed, he was not impressed! He’s a big Dr Who fan.”

Apart from the damage to the roof, the lightning appears to have buckled a window lintel as it exited the house.

Both the family cars were damaged where masonry fell.

All the lights were blown, the TV, Sky box and computer are burnt out and four neighbours have all had their TVs affected by the storm.

Yesterday Elis and his one-year-old brother Deryn, who sleeps in a separate bedroom, were happily playing with their toys oblivious to the previous night’s drama.

Iestyn and Trish praised their neighbours Abby and Ian Johnson who took them in during the storm and also thanked the fire crews who spent nearly two hours at the house and used thermal imaging equipment to check whether any roof joists were smouldering.

“They checked everything before leaving, even fitted a couple of modern smoke alarms,” added Iestyn.

A spokesman for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews stayed to ensure everything in the property was safe.

© 2008 Yellowbrix, Inc.

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