@Roger: Yup – lightning is incredible powerful, infinititly more so that the power transmission / distribution systems which is my area of expertise. I have experienced (not first hand thankfully) many high voltage accidents and any of those you can walk away from is a big deal – so for these boys to have survived this is nothing short of miraculous.
@GreenBlooded: he is out of high care and improving all the time and still being monitored. I think it is too early to to ascertain if there is any lasting damage. Just really hope the last boy in High Care recovers fully. The stories are incredible – one boys shoes melted into his feet. Another boy was wearing a chain and has a burn mark around his neck.
What is the latest on the other boy who was on the critical list? Last was that he was off life support and improving. The thing to hope and pray for now is not that there is no permanent damage to these boys and that their lives will return to normal in as short a time as possible.
@Greenblooded, thanks for sharing the clip. Brought back memories of my days at Glenwood. Well done to the KES boys standing together.
Just an idea, how about all the big boys schools in SA getting together at midday on Monday and doing their own warcries and ringing their bells in support of the KES boys. Now that would be showing strength in unity. Maybe even link up via skype.
@GreenBlooded: what most people don’t know is that only eight cricketers were struck – the ninth was a 1st team rugby player who was doing laps around the field and jumped in to help the cricketers pull the covers on. This chap was the seventh boy discharged yesterday. He played 1st team lock last year and is mooted to pull on the number 8 jersey this year.
The final boy in High Care still is showing small positive signs of recovery. He briefly opened his eyes yesterday and squeezed his mother’s hand. He is still in an induced coma.
This morning at the school there was an open assembly for all high school and primary school parents and learners and old boys – apparently a very emotional event.
The greater school community has been incredible in their support. They have even had messages of support from UK schools whom have toured and played KES and visa versa.
@GreenBlooded: Thanks Boet, awesome. please keep us updated. Things like this is always a reminder for a lynloop lover like myself, some things in life is more important then sport.
@Gungets Tuft: Great news that the critical boys are improving. Now that it seems they will survive the ordeal we just have to hope and pray that there are no permanent effects and that they return to normal. Following the Twitter feed every few hours, I’ve been amazed at how the greater SA schools community closed ranks and got behind these guys – one big brotherhood in times of trouble. Great to see. Like you say, until these boys pull through they are a part of all of us.
Further news is that the 7th non-critical boy has been discharged and one of the critical boys is out of danger and off life support. The remaining critical boy is showing positive signs or recovery. That is simply excellent news. There, but for fortune, go all of us, so for now, I regard these guys as next to family.
@PaarlBok: two remain in High Care and are critical but stable, one is in the general cardiac ward under observation. Apparently one of the boys will be taken out of his induced coma this morning. The other remains critical but stable.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Boys and Parents from KES. From what I read about lightning conductors, you would need a helluva lot of masts to cover and prevent a lightning strike on the size and area of a cricket field…This was pure bad luck in my opinion and maybe just bad timing.
This is so sad and encourages us to all have a look at the plans at our kids schools.
My thoughts to the KES community and to all others who have been impacted by this tragedy. Thank goodness for the paramedic Dad who was basically on scene.
A KES father – who is a paramedic – resusciated both boys on the field as they had gone into cardiac arrest. They remain in a critical condition at Milpark in an induced coma. The other seven boys are ok and I believe have been discharged. Dave Lovatt was addressing the boys at 8am this morning at assembly and then would be releasing a statement thereafter. All sport etc has been cancelled today. The school has lightning detection equipment – much like most golf clubs have – and all boys had been pulled off the fields. These boys were pulling covers onto the 1st team oval pitch when the accident happened – need to see the statement from the school before speculating why they were covering the pitch when there was lightning about. As everyone knows – electrical storms are very common in JHB in summer and KES is situated on top of the Houghton ridge and is a high risk lightning area. Turns out that four schools girls were struck by lightning on Monday in Soweto as well while walking home from school and one is still in a critical condition.
Thought and prayers with the boys and their families – hoping for a full and speedy recovery.
In another life, when everyone is bahaving on the roads, there is no rain and the drag-racing is cancelled, I earn pocket money by doing disaster recovery planning. I know one thing – no matter how well prepared you are, no matter what precautions you have taken and how long and hard you have thought about scenarios, there are holes that are only revealed by hindsight. KES is something like 112 years old, it is unlikely that they have had something like this happen before and not act on it, so I will assume that this was literally a bolt from the blue.
I am sure there will be massive introspection at KES over the coming weeks. The key will be to :
1. Avoid the blame game. Kids have been hurt and apportioning blame is not going to change that. If rules have been broken, guidelines not followed, then deal with that behind closed doors. Public floggings are never useful, destroy morale and build resentment.
2. Dissect what happened here, decisions that were made and why. What went well, what did not, what can sensibly be done to fill the gaps in the plan.
3. Document the new plan
4. Do some scenario “executions” .. in other words, role play the plan, with an expert who will (guaranteed!!!) rip it all to shreds. The insiders can never properly take an outside view, they make too many assumptions.
5. Fix the plans, assign the responsibilities, and then make sure that you do drills regularly and unannounced.
I know that there is not a school worth their salt in South Africa that is not scrambling RIGHT NOW to make sure they relook their plans. I know that I will be asking the question of College and volunteering my services should they feel I can help.
Just as long as it is not raining that day, towing waits for no man …
@Grasshopper: I think those types of questions need to be answered. I can tell you one thing – I will haul my lighties off any field if there is lightning around after this. A wicket damaged by rain can be repaired. It’s not worth the risk to ‘quickly get the covers on’ which is what it seems happened here. Hard way to learn.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the kids, their parents and the KES community. Hoping for a full recovery by all. Such a fluke natural event, one would have thought in Gauteng grounds would have lightening conductors. Are there no trees around the ground?
Twitter has no change from yesterday. The two boys who are still critical have been placed into induced coma to give them every chance of recovery. Apparently a paramendic and his wife were leaving the grounds after fetching their own child and responded, managed to resuscitate the two who were in cardiac arrest.
I expect the KES folk here will be able to keep us up to date. Must confess to a very disturbed night last night, it’s just bloody horrible.
@star: As posted on the other thread. 4 boys released from hospital, 3 under observation, 2 still in ICU. Pulling for the lighties and their families, and the school who will be hard hit by this.
@GreenBlooded: eeisch … My aunt was the matron at Hilton some years ago when some boys were killed by lightning, still haunts her, arriving at the field with kids lying everywhere and not being able to revive them.
This is the KES 1st team, they are going to need huge amounts of support which it looks like they are getting. Reports that the two kids are on life support … Sad, hope it all turns out well.
Thanks for the update
@GreenBlooded: Great to hear that
Last I heard the one guy was sent home so only 1 still in hospital showing signs of improvement.
Any updates after the weekend?
@Roger: Yup – lightning is incredible powerful, infinititly more so that the power transmission / distribution systems which is my area of expertise. I have experienced (not first hand thankfully) many high voltage accidents and any of those you can walk away from is a big deal – so for these boys to have survived this is nothing short of miraculous.
@GreenBlooded: he is out of high care and improving all the time and still being monitored. I think it is too early to to ascertain if there is any lasting damage. Just really hope the last boy in High Care recovers fully. The stories are incredible – one boys shoes melted into his feet. Another boy was wearing a chain and has a burn mark around his neck.
@Roger: Saw this pic – messages of support from rival schools.
https://twitter.com/KingEdVIISchool/status/302285285973184512/photo/1
What is the latest on the other boy who was on the critical list? Last was that he was off life support and improving. The thing to hope and pray for now is not that there is no permanent damage to these boys and that their lives will return to normal in as short a time as possible.
@Grasshopper: Good idea
@Greenblooded, thanks for sharing the clip. Brought back memories of my days at Glenwood. Well done to the KES boys standing together.
Just an idea, how about all the big boys schools in SA getting together at midday on Monday and doing their own warcries and ringing their bells in support of the KES boys. Now that would be showing strength in unity. Maybe even link up via skype.
@GreenBlooded: what most people don’t know is that only eight cricketers were struck – the ninth was a 1st team rugby player who was doing laps around the field and jumped in to help the cricketers pull the covers on. This chap was the seventh boy discharged yesterday. He played 1st team lock last year and is mooted to pull on the number 8 jersey this year.
The final boy in High Care still is showing small positive signs of recovery. He briefly opened his eyes yesterday and squeezed his mother’s hand. He is still in an induced coma.
This morning at the school there was an open assembly for all high school and primary school parents and learners and old boys – apparently a very emotional event.
The greater school community has been incredible in their support. They have even had messages of support from UK schools whom have toured and played KES and visa versa.
@GreenBlooded: Thanks for the video link. Great to see the school standing together.
@GreenBlooded: Thanks Boet, awesome. please keep us updated. Things like this is always a reminder for a lynloop lover like myself, some things in life is more important then sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmlvxaiZp-Q&noredirect=1
This is guaranteed to make you choke up.
@Gungets Tuft: Great news that the critical boys are improving. Now that it seems they will survive the ordeal we just have to hope and pray that there are no permanent effects and that they return to normal. Following the Twitter feed every few hours, I’ve been amazed at how the greater SA schools community closed ranks and got behind these guys – one big brotherhood in times of trouble. Great to see. Like you say, until these boys pull through they are a part of all of us.
Further news is that the 7th non-critical boy has been discharged and one of the critical boys is out of danger and off life support. The remaining critical boy is showing positive signs or recovery. That is simply excellent news. There, but for fortune, go all of us, so for now, I regard these guys as next to family.
Update on News24 : http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Six-KES-pupils-back-at-school-20130214
@Rugger fan: Rugger Fan – please mail me – gungetstuft@gmail.com
Cheers
Thanks Roger – prayers continue for them.
@PaarlBok: two remain in High Care and are critical but stable, one is in the general cardiac ward under observation. Apparently one of the boys will be taken out of his induced coma this morning. The other remains critical but stable.
Any fresh news on the boys?
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Boys and Parents from KES. From what I read about lightning conductors, you would need a helluva lot of masts to cover and prevent a lightning strike on the size and area of a cricket field…This was pure bad luck in my opinion and maybe just bad timing.
This is so sad and encourages us to all have a look at the plans at our kids schools.
My thoughts to the KES community and to all others who have been impacted by this tragedy. Thank goodness for the paramedic Dad who was basically on scene.
apologies – five boys remain in hospital, two still critical. It is hoped the other three will be discharged today
A KES father – who is a paramedic – resusciated both boys on the field as they had gone into cardiac arrest. They remain in a critical condition at Milpark in an induced coma. The other seven boys are ok and I believe have been discharged. Dave Lovatt was addressing the boys at 8am this morning at assembly and then would be releasing a statement thereafter. All sport etc has been cancelled today. The school has lightning detection equipment – much like most golf clubs have – and all boys had been pulled off the fields. These boys were pulling covers onto the 1st team oval pitch when the accident happened – need to see the statement from the school before speculating why they were covering the pitch when there was lightning about. As everyone knows – electrical storms are very common in JHB in summer and KES is situated on top of the Houghton ridge and is a high risk lightning area. Turns out that four schools girls were struck by lightning on Monday in Soweto as well while walking home from school and one is still in a critical condition.
Thought and prayers with the boys and their families – hoping for a full and speedy recovery.
This shocking news feel for the boys
In another life, when everyone is bahaving on the roads, there is no rain and the drag-racing is cancelled, I earn pocket money by doing disaster recovery planning. I know one thing – no matter how well prepared you are, no matter what precautions you have taken and how long and hard you have thought about scenarios, there are holes that are only revealed by hindsight. KES is something like 112 years old, it is unlikely that they have had something like this happen before and not act on it, so I will assume that this was literally a bolt from the blue.
I am sure there will be massive introspection at KES over the coming weeks. The key will be to :
1. Avoid the blame game. Kids have been hurt and apportioning blame is not going to change that. If rules have been broken, guidelines not followed, then deal with that behind closed doors. Public floggings are never useful, destroy morale and build resentment.
2. Dissect what happened here, decisions that were made and why. What went well, what did not, what can sensibly be done to fill the gaps in the plan.
3. Document the new plan
4. Do some scenario “executions” .. in other words, role play the plan, with an expert who will (guaranteed!!!) rip it all to shreds. The insiders can never properly take an outside view, they make too many assumptions.
5. Fix the plans, assign the responsibilities, and then make sure that you do drills regularly and unannounced.
I know that there is not a school worth their salt in South Africa that is not scrambling RIGHT NOW to make sure they relook their plans. I know that I will be asking the question of College and volunteering my services should they feel I can help.
Just as long as it is not raining that day, towing waits for no man …
Wow – what an accident. Prayers for all involved – and trusting for a full and speedy recovery for all.
@Grasshopper: I think those types of questions need to be answered. I can tell you one thing – I will haul my lighties off any field if there is lightning around after this. A wicket damaged by rain can be repaired. It’s not worth the risk to ‘quickly get the covers on’ which is what it seems happened here. Hard way to learn.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the kids, their parents and the KES community. Hoping for a full recovery by all. Such a fluke natural event, one would have thought in Gauteng grounds would have lightening conductors. Are there no trees around the ground?
Twitter has no change from yesterday. The two boys who are still critical have been placed into induced coma to give them every chance of recovery. Apparently a paramendic and his wife were leaving the grounds after fetching their own child and responded, managed to resuscitate the two who were in cardiac arrest.
I expect the KES folk here will be able to keep us up to date. Must confess to a very disturbed night last night, it’s just bloody horrible.
This is tragic.
Those in the know,please keep the updates coming on the 5 boys still in hospital.
Cant imagine what their families are going through.
Any updates on the health of the kids?
@star: As posted on the other thread. 4 boys released from hospital, 3 under observation, 2 still in ICU. Pulling for the lighties and their families, and the school who will be hard hit by this.
2 still critical. 4 released. 3 remain for observation.
@ Sharkie- 9 first team cricketers- 7 are stable and 2 under high care.
I believe some Kes boys were struck by lightning does anyone have details
@GreenBlooded: eeisch … My aunt was the matron at Hilton some years ago when some boys were killed by lightning, still haunts her, arriving at the field with kids lying everywhere and not being able to revive them.
This is the KES 1st team, they are going to need huge amounts of support which it looks like they are getting. Reports that the two kids are on life support … Sad, hope it all turns out well.
Wow – not good news. Holding thumbs that those boys come through this ordeal OK.
2 in high care
9 boys struck, 7 are stable, 1 in high care. All the best to the boys and their families, your College mates are pulling for you.
Breaking news of a lightning strike at a KES cricket practice today. Hope there are no serious injuries. Anyone know any details.