Boys stay in hospital after lightning strike
2013-02-12 22:27
Johannesburg - Five boys from King Edward VII School in Johannesburg will remain in hospital on Tuesday, after being hurt during a lightning strike after a cricket practice, the school said.
The school tweeted that two of the boys remain in a critical condition, while 3 others will be kept for observation.
Four other boys have been released from hospital, the school said.
Earlier, Netcare911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann said the nine boys were rushed to Milpark Hospital after the incident.
Sapa reported that two Netcare 911 cars were seen leaving the school premises from the direction of the cricket field.
According to Gauteng education department spokesperson Charles Phlalane the boys were pulling covers onto the cricket field when lighting struck.
Phlalane said trauma counsellors would be sent to the school on Wednesday to speak to schoolchildren and teachers.
The school confirmed that the boys involved were members of its first XI cricket team.
They were aged between 16 and 18.
The school had earlier taken taken to twitter to avoid panic amid worried parents.
An update read: #KESBOARDINGPARENTS Please note all boarders are fine & safe. Only nine 1st Team cricketers affected. 7 are stable & 2 under high care.
It also later tweeted its thanks fot the outpouring of support: #THANKYOU One & all for your support, messages, kind & best wishes.King Edward is humbled by the outpouring of love & support #4EverGrateful.
At the school, a security guard controlled entrance to premises late in the afternoon, as parents went to fetch their children.
A school official, who did not want to be named said referred all queries to the education department, saying: "No comment at this stage from the school."
Schoolboys, dressed in cricket attire, did not speak to anyone.
Meanwhile, Phalane said on Monday four girl learners from Protea Glen Secondary School in Soweto, all 16-years old, were struck by lightning while on their way home after school.
One is still in intensive care while others are stable.
The department is providing support to these learners.
