
Three hikers killed by lightning strike in Austrian Alps
A spokesperson for Alpine police in the western town of Landeck said it was likely the couple, both 60, and the 62-year-old brother, died from the same lightning strike.
Police said the rare incident occurred on Sunday afternoon as the trio were descending the Mittagsspitze mountain near the village of Flirsch, and that a rescue helicopter found their bodies near a path at an altitude of around 2,268 metres (7,440 feet).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Met Éireann issues thunderstorm warning for three counties as temperatures rise
Met Éireann has issued a thunderstorm warning for three counties on Wednesday. The national weather agency said Clare, Kerry and Limerick will be impacted between 3pm and 9pm. Advertisement Forecasters said the storms could result in localised flooding, lightning damage and difficult travelling conditions. ⚠️ Yellow Thunderstorm Warning issued for Clare, Kerry, and Limerick Thunderstorms possible in parts. • Localised Flooding • Lightning Damage • Difficult Travelling condtions Expected Onset: Wed 13/8/2025 15:00 Expires: Wed 13/8/2025 21:00 ⚠️ — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 12, 2025 The warning comes after very warm conditions on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius in some areas. Met Éireann said Tuesday night will be largely dry with clear spells and perhaps the odd shower. Temperatures will not fall below 13 to 16 degrees. Wednesday will remain warm and humid with sunny spells to begin, Met Éireann said. Showers or showery outbreaks of rain will push up from the southwest with some thunderstorms possible as temperatures reach highs of 21 to 25 degrees. The warm and humid conditions are set to continue for the rest of the week, according to Met Éireann, with plenty of dry weather.


The Sun
06-08-2025
- The Sun
Brit couple on holiday in Spain swept to their deaths by ‘massive wall of water' that rushed through gorge
A YOUNG couple drowned in flash floods while hiking after a "massive wall of water" appeared within "seconds", an inquest heard. Alexander Barrett, 32, and Sarah Thompson, 26, were on holiday in Majorca with a group of friends when tragedy struck on September 3, last year. 3 3 Climbing instructor and lifeguard Alexander tried to help his girlfriend as a "wall of water" came crashing down the canyon they were walking with other hikers, Stockport Coroner's Court heard. The couple, from Offerton, near Stockport in Manchester, were swept away. Spanish rescue teams discovered Sarah's body the following day. Specialist officers located Alexander's on September 6, in the Torrent de Pareis canyon, in the Tramuntana mountains. At the inquest, Sarah's devastated father Peter Thompson, said his daughter "was never without a smile on her face". And Alexander's heartbroken dad, Paul Rodman, told how his son "loved life". Paying tribute, he said: "He was genuinely a good person, a caring person, a kind person. "The friends and family have developed a little saying, 'Be more like Alex' because that's what we aspire to be. "He's missed so much by all his friends and family." Alexander's friend Luke Weaver, who was on the trip with the tragic couple said: "We all had a mutual passion for climbing and hiking." Bank boss & dad-of-three, 43, drops dead after repeatedly scaling mountain six times in crazy 'EVERESTING' challenge He told the inquest how the group had planned a three hour expedition, which was known to be "challenging in places". Mr Weaver had already completed the route several times, but neither Alexander nor Sarah had. The fellow climbing instructor, who had worked with Alexander, said he checked weather predictions in the morning. He knew the gorge had flooded, but the forecast only showed rain hitting at 6pm, by which time they'd no longer be in the area. "Had I known what was to happen, I would never have let them into the gorge," Mr Weaver added. The hiker dropped the group off by car, but was delayed in joining them due to hitting traffic while trying to park. He noticed it starting to rain at around 2.30pm but became concerned when a storm moved in shortly after. Mr Weaver said he saw his friends, who were now with a German couple and two Spanish nationals, in a "bottleneck" between two boulders. "At this point the heavens opened," he said. "At this time the water was flowing like a small river." He went to help the group and asked Sarah if she was "OK" and she replied yes but with a "nervous smile". "Seconds later a massive wall of water came down the gorge," Mr Weaver said. "The water appeared to come from nowhere. The sound was incredibly loud, people were screaming." Mr Weaver told the inquest he saw one person clinging onto a rock, but one of the Spanish nationals had been swept away. His partner managed to get out of the water and after a few minutes others emerged gasping for air above the surface. Survivors were airlifted out of the gorge by helicopter, suffering only minor injuries. But Alexander and Sarah had been taken by the current, the inquest heard. Mr Weaver added: "Everyone who survived that day is incredibly lucky, especially those who got caught in the water. "I have never experienced anything like this and it is something I will never forget." Post-mortem examinations gave the cause of death as drowning for both of the deceased. Jyoti Gill, assistant coroner for Manchester South, recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by drowning for the couple. "It appears water dragged Sarah, and Alex had tried to help her," Ms Gill concluded. "Sadly, both Sarah and Alex were unable to climb to safety and were swept away by the floodwaters," she added. Sarah had represented Cumbria at fell running in national competitions. She earned a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University, and had recently been promoted in the donations team at The Christie hospital in Manchester.


BBC News
05-08-2025
- BBC News
Stockport couple drowned in Majorca flash floods, inquest told
A young couple were drowned in flash floods while on a hiking holiday in Majorca, an inquest has instructor and lifeguard Alexander Barrett, 32, tried to help his partner Sarah Thompson, 26, as a "wall of water" cascaded down the canyon they were descending with a group of other hikers, Stockport Coroner's Court were swept to their deaths, with Ms Thompson's body recovered by Spanish search and rescue teams on 4 September 2024, the day after the Barrett's body was found on September 6 in the Torrent de Pareis canyon in the Tramuntana mountains. Ms Thompson's father, Peter Thompson, said his daughter "was never without a smile on her face".She had represented Cumbria at fell running in national competitions, had a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan Rodman, Mr Barrett's father, said his son "loved life" and relished the outdoors, from hiking to surfing."The friends and family have developed a little saying, 'Be more like Alex' because that's what we aspire to be." Mr Rodman added: "He's missed so much by all his friends and family."The couple, from Offerton, near Stockport, had gone on the trip with friends, all hiking and climbing enthusiasts, to Weaver, who knew Mr Barrett as a friend and climbing instructor at an indoor climbing centre in Stockport, said in a statement read to the inquest that the group "had a mutual passion for climbing and hiking". Mr Weaver, who on the trip with his partner, said the planned planned - which was expected to take three to four hours - was known to be "challenging in places". He had completed the hike before on several occasions, but neither Ms Thompson nor Mr Barrett Mr Weaver said he considered it was "well within the capabilities" of the said he was aware the gorge flooded so he checked the weather forecast on the morning of 3 only predicted rain from 18:00 BST, by which time they would be "well clear".He dropped the group of friends off and planned to catch up with them after parking his car, but was delayed in heavy traffic by around two the afternoon it began to drizzle, but Mr Weaver said this did not cause any concern as he continued the hike. 'People screaming' He said as there was no phone signal in the gorge and he could not make contact with his Weaver said he spotted them with a German couple and two Spanish nationals in a "bottleneck" between two boulders."Water [then] appeared to come from nowhere. The sound was incredibly loud, people were screaming."Mr Weaver said he could see one of the group had managed to grab on to a rock while one of the Spanish nationals had been swept into the torrent and was being carried own partner managed to get out of the water and, after a few minutes, others emerged from the Mr Weaver said the noise of the water was too loud for them to Thompson was seen being swept away along with Mr Barrett, who had tried to help before the current took him too. Survivors who had suffered minor injuries were taken out of the gorge by Gill, assistant coroner for Manchester South, recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by drowning for both Ms Thompson and Mr Barrett."Sadly, both Sarah and Alex were unable to climb to safety and were swept away by the floodwaters," Ms Gill said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.