A CORONER has told an inquest into the death of a teenage boy, who sustained fatal injuries when he was hit by lightning while crossing a green near his home, that his death was a "freak" and "very tragic" accident.
Patrick Ryan (14), Kilclare Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin, was walking across a green during a thunder and lightning storm on the afternoon of April 12th when the incident occurred, Dublin County Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Nicole Douglas (13), Dromcarra, Tallaght, was upstairs on her bed watching the storm when she witnessed the incident. She saw "a fellow walking across the green" followed by an "orange flash" where he was walking, said a statement read out in court. When she looked again, Nicole saw the "fellow on the ground".
She alerted her mother and father, who ran out and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation to Patrick, but his tongue, face and stomach were turning purple and there were no signs of life, her mother, Lisa Douglas, told the court.
Patrick was brought to Tallaght Hospital where he was treated in the intensive care unit. His injuries proved too severe and he was pronounced dead at 3am on April 13th.
A postmortem found he had extensive burns on his body and died of brain injury due to heart muscle damage and cardiac arrhythmia due to electrocution by lightning.
A jury of eight men and four women returned a verdict of accidental death under the direction of coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty.
Outside the court, the teenager's parents, Jerry Corr and Ann Ryan, who were visibly upset, said they wanted to thank everyone for all their help following the tragedy.
"We want to thank the people of Tallaght, they were very good, and we want to thank the doctors and nurses," Mr Corr said.