The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A MUTARE Boys’ High Form One learner, Lawrence Dzinokuvara (14), died after being struck by lightning in the Central Business District yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.
The incident, which saw the now deceased being left with torn clothes and bruises on the left side of his back, happened yesterday around 4pm near Tim’s Butchery in the downtown area of Mutare.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said Lawrence was in the company of his mother and sibling when he was struck by lightning.
“He was walking along a foot path near Tim’s Butchery, crossing End Avenue in the downtown area of Mutare, together his mother Memory Nyakudya (45) and younger sister.
“When they were near Tim’s Butchery, it started raining with thunderstorm and lighting. The three were covering themselves with one umbrella.
“Lawrence decided to run towards Tim’s Butchery to seek shelter. When he was under a gum tree he was struck by lightning and fell to the ground.
“The mother instantly ran towards her son to assist and noticed bruises on the left side of his back. His T-shirt and pair of trousers were torn into pieces. A well-wisher assisted with transport to ferry Lawrence to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
The Manicaland police spokesperson urged members of the public to seek safe shelter each time when it is raining.
According to Google, lightning safety experts say when lightning strikes a tree, the charge doesn’t penetrate deep into the ground, but rather spreads out along the ground surface in something called ground current and this can lead to multiple injuries and deaths.
