A FATHER and his five-year-old son are fighting for their lives in hospital after being struck by lightning in the North of Ireland.
George Allen was collecting his son and daughter from a sports day being held at Killowen Primary School in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, when the trio were struck by lightning yesterday afternoon.
The family are reported to have been holding hands at the time.
Shocked parents and school staff rushed to help them, before they were taken to hospital.
Mr Allen, 37, was taken to Lisburn's Lagan Valley Hospital before being moved to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, where he remains in a critical condition.
His children were sent to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where his son is in a critical condition and his seven-year-old daughter is stable.
Both are thought to have suffered burn injuries from the lightning bolt.
The remaining pupils at the school were moved to a nearby college to wait to be collected by their parents.
Fiona Douglas, the school's principal, explained: "Following this all other pupils, accompanied by staff, went safely to nearby Laurel Hill Community College, where they were collected by parents.”
She added: "The thoughts of the entire school community are with the family at this time."
According to the school’s website, yesterday’s sports day was for children aged four to seven.
The school is closed today.
With further thunderstorms possible in the North of Ireland this week, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has since issued a warning, asking people to "remain very vigilant when they are out and about".
