Lightning struck a 14-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man on the GR10 hiking trail at an altitude of 2,700 meters near Cauterets, in the Hautes-Pyrenees, on Monday, August 3, as a storm system moved through the region.
Rescuers reached the two victims and airlifted them to the hospital in Tarbes, where doctors still need to carry out further examinations.
Rescue operation
Major Jean-Michel Rode, deputy commander of the high-mountain gendarmerie unit (PGHM) of Pierrefitte-Nestalas, told TF1 that a relatively short weather window allowed rescuers to administer first aid and quickly load both victims onto a helicopter for direct evacuation to the Tarbes hospital.
As of Monday evening, the hikers' prognosis was described as guarded, with doctors waiting to run further tests before assessing their condition. Between 100 and 300 people are struck by lightning in France every year.
