February 24, 11.30AM:
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Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Ken Halstead has expressed his sadness on learning one of the women struck by lightning in Corbett Gardens has passed away.
“On behalf of everyone at council, we extend our sincere sympathies and deepest condolences to the woman’s family,” he said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.”
The 61-year-old woman from Rockdale was visiting the gardens with family on February 18 when the thunderstorm struck.
She passed away at Royal North Shore Hospital on February 23.
February 23, 3.15PM:
The woman who was in a critical condition at Royal North Shore Hospital has passed away.
The 61-year-old from Rockdale passed away early Thursday (February 23) morning.
She was in a critical condition after being struck by lightning in Corbett Gardens on February 18.
A postmortem will now be conducted to determine her cause of death.
February 21, 4.50PM:
Two of the three women struck by lightning in Corbett Gardens on February 18 have been discharged from hospital.
The two 60-year-old sisters were treated at Concord Burns Unit at Concord Reparation General Hospital for their injuries. One woman is from Canberra, and the other is from Mulgoa.
The third 61-year-old woman is still in a critical condition at Royal North Shore Hospital.
February 18, 9.30PM:
A woman was revived by paramedics after being struck by lightning in Corbett Gardens.
Three women were struck by the lightning bolt during a severe thunderstorm in Bowral on February 18.
The women, sisters, aged in their 60s, were walking through Corbett Gardens when bad weather hit about 3pm.
They sought shelter from heavy rain and lightning at one of the park’s benches, under a large tree.
One of the women put up an umbrella over the three ladies during the peak of the storm, when lightning struck and all three women were thrown from the bench. One of the women was unconscious and unresponsive.
A passerby ran to Bowral Police Station and notified an officer, who ran to the gardens and began CPR on the woman.
The officer continued CPR until paramedics arrived and took over treatment of the patient, for about 30 minutes.
Bowral Police Inspector John Klepczarek said the woman was revived at the scene and rushed to Bowral Hospital for treatment. She was then airlifted to a Sydney hospital in a critical condition.
“The great work and fast response of the police officer and paramedics have given this woman the best chance of survival,” he said.
Paramedics treated the other sisters for shock and burns. They were also taken to Bowral Hospital for treatment before being airlifted to Sydney.
Bowral Police Inspector John Klepczarek said although there had been some confusion around the woman’s condition as the situation was unfolding, updates had since confirmed she was in fact flown to Sydney in a critical condition.
Hail and heavy rain hammered parts the Highlands during the afternoon hours of February 18 after the Bureau of Meterology put out a severe thunderstorm warning.
