Edmonton resident struck by lightning in Thursday storm saved by paramedics
Article content
'At approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 24, Alberta Health Services EMS received a call for an incident near Callingwood Estates,' said a Friday statement emailed to Postmedia from Community Engagement and Communications for AHS.
Article content
Article content
Article content
The individual, transported to hospital in critical condition, had to be resuscitated at the scene, friends of the victim shared on social media.
Article content
Article content
The call came in close to an EMS station, and the response was lightning fast, with first responders arriving in a minute.
Article content
'I helped call them in, they were indeed there that quick,' posted one friend of the victim.
Article content
A poster named Brodi said Edmonton is lucky to have some of the most amazing paramedics around.
Article content
'The fact that they do the job in all kinds of weather conditions — some quite dangerous, like thunderstorms, extreme heat, blizzard conditions — just shows some serious determination and dedication to their jobs and to helping others,' Brodi said.
Article content
Lightning has been in the news recently after Olympic ski cross medalist Audun Groenvold, 49, died after being struck by lightning.
Article content
Groenvold, who won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was a coach and sports commentator. He had been on a cabin trip at the time of his death.
Article content
Article content
The Norwegian Ski Federation said Groenvold was 'quickly taken to hospital and received treatment for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike' and then died from his injuries.
Article content
Article content
Canadian statistics suggest somewhere around one in six individuals struck by lightning dies from their injuries.
Article content
Between 2002 and 2017, there were 180 lighting-related injuries in Canada.
Article content
On average, two to three individuals die each year from lightning strikes.
Article content
There used to be a rule about the time between lightning and thunder to determine distance, but that rule has been outmoded by research.
Article content
'When you hear thunder, you are in striking distance of lightning,' said Christy Climenhaga of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Article content
And even if you can't hear thunder, don't assume you're safe outside.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wet weather expected to help crews battle northern Saskatchewan wildfires
PRINCE ALBERT – Saskatchewan safety officials say wet weather is expected to help in the fight against wildfires in northwest Saskatchewan. Steve Roberts from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says fire conditions have slightly improved, because of scattered rain across the province's north. He says firefighters from other parts of Canada, Australia and Mexico continue to fight the fires, and roughly 300 Canadian military members are helping. Fires over the long weekend forced residents of the village of La Loche, about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon — as well as 12 other communities — to leave, bringing the total number of scattered evacuees to roughly 3,000. Officials say the fire near La Loche is 40 per cent contained and, while mitigation efforts are going well, residents can expect to be out of their homes until the western side of the fire is contained. Saskatchewan is reporting 81 active wildfires, including 14 that are not contained. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025.
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Cision Canada
One Year Later: Calgary's Historic Hailstorm Underscores Urgent Need for Government Action
Insurers call for government action to improve community resilience and fix unsustainable auto insurance market CALGARY, AB, Aug. 5, 2025 /CNW/ - One year ago, a devastating hailstorm swept through Calgary, causing well over $3 billion in insured damage and becoming the second-costliest natural disaster in Canadian history. As the community marks the anniversary of this unprecedented event, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is commending the resilience of affected residents and urging provincial and municipal governments to strengthen community protection. "The August 2024 hailstorm was a traumatic event for tens of thousands of residents, with hail, strong winds and heavy rain causing severe damage to homes and vehicles," said Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Pacific and Western, IBC. "Calgarians have shown tremendous resiliency over the past year and insurers have worked tirelessly to help them recover. The extent of repeated hail damage in the city should be a clear wake-up call to strengthen our resilience and adapt more effectively to our new weather reality." Parts of Calgary sit within Canada's "Hail Alley," a region long known for frequent and damaging hailstorms — events that are getting worse every year. Alberta has experienced at least one major hailstorm every year for the past two decades, resulting in more than $10 billion in insured damage. The past five years alone have accounted for $5.5 billion of that total. Less than a month ago, on July 13, the city was hit again by an intense hailstorm that has been declared a catastrophic event with damage expected to exceed $30 million. These events are not isolated incidents — they reflect of a clear and troubling pattern that demands action through public policy. Insurers are calling on governments at all levels to: Revive Calgary's Resilient Roofing Rebate Program, which provided homeowners with financial assistance to retrofit their homes to better protect them from hail damage; Mandate the use of hail resistant roofing and siding in all new construction in high-risk areas; and, Improve hail notification services so that residents are better able to prepare and move vehicles out of harm's way. "Alberta is Canada's hotspot for catastrophic weather events. The province has seen more damage and a higher number of associated insurance claims than any other province in Canada," said Sutherland. "Over the past decade, Alberta has accounted for nearly half of all insured severe weather losses in Canada, placing pressure on insurance premiums that will continue to grow unless governments take action to better protect communities and our property." IBC continues to urge governments to invest in making our communities more resilient against hail and other forms of severe weather. Effects of severe weather on an already strained auto insurance market More than half of the claims from last August's hailstorm – about 70,000 – were for vehicles, with estimated damage of roughly $1 billion. This underscores the growing pressure that severe weather is placing on Alberta's already strained auto insurance system. As severe weather and other pressures climb, the cost of providing auto insurance continues to grow, yet for the past three years, Alberta has frozen or capped auto insurance rates below the cost of providing coverage – the longest period of government interference in auto insurance in Canadian history. With premiums no longer reflecting the cost of providing auto insurance coverage, Alberta auto insurers paid out $1.20 in claims and expenses for every $1 they earned in premiums in 2024. This is not sustainable. As Alberta auto insurance grows increasingly financially untenable, insurers have been forced to restrict the sale of coverage, leaving many drivers facing challenges securing the coverage they need. Unless rates are permitted to reflect the actual cost of coverage and Alberta's auto insurance market is returned to health, the success of the government's Care-First reforms will be placed in jeopardy. "Alberta's auto insurance system is in crisis," said Sutherland. "The government must remove the rate cap and ensure the Care-First reforms are implemented effectively – especially by reining in legal costs, as promised. IBC continues to work with the government to get the details right. Without meaningful change, consumers will face fewer insurance coverage options and growing frustration." Resiliency at a national level Governments across Canada have a critical role to play in better protecting Canadians from natural disasters. This includes: Halting the construction of unprotected homes and businesses in high-risk flood and wildfire zones; Investing in vulnerable communities to ensure they are FireSmart and better protected against flooding; Helping homeowners understand the specific risks they face in their area; and Subsidizing home retrofits to help reduce exposure to floods and wildfires. Canada also needs a federal coordinating agency to lead emergency preparedness and recovery efforts, ensuring communities are not left to develop their own response plans from scratch after every catastrophic event. Every other G7 country has an agency operating in this capacity – it's time for Canada to follow suit and take on a proactive approach to emergency management. About Insurance Bureau of Canada Established in 1964, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up the vast majority of Canada's highly competitive property and casualty (P&C) insurance market. As the leading advocate for Canada's private P&C insurers, IBC collaborates with governments, regulators and stakeholders to support a competitive environment for the P&C insurance industry to continue to help protect Canadians from the risks of today and tomorrow. IBC believes that Canadians value and deserve a responsive and resilient private P&C insurance industry that provides insurance solutions to both individuals and businesses. For media releases, IN Focus articles, or to book an interview with an IBC representative, visit Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC. We're here to help.
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Toronto Star
Wawanesa offering $200,000 in grants to support projects that reduce the impacts of extreme weather
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With extreme weather becoming more frequent, unpredictable, and severe, Wawanesa Insurance is once again stepping up to help more Canadian communities become more resilient through its Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants. Now in its second year, the initiative is offering $200,000 in total funding to support climate adaptation and mitigation projects that reduce the effects of extreme weather on communities. To help recipients make an even greater impact, Wawanesa has doubled the maximum individual grant amount to $50,000. The Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants are open to qualified projects in any Canadian community.
