14 ARMY RECRUITS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

MANZINI – A total of 14 army recruits were rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital after they were struck by lightning on Wednesday evening.

The incident occurred at around 9:20pm at Mbuluzi Army Barracks.
The survivors arrived at the RFM in 977 ambulances which were called to collect them from the barracks, while some came in army vehicles. Some were reportedly sent to other medical facilities as the hospital’s Emergency Room (ER) had become crowded.

When reporters from this publication arrived at the hospital at 11:30pm on Wednesday six of the recruits were in a critical condition, lying on the hospital beds at the ER covered in blankets.

Treated

Others were seated on the benches waiting to be treated by the doctors and nurses, while others were in a stable condition. 
Most of the recruits who were accompanied by army officials were released from the hospital in the early hours of yesterday.
Information gathered is that the USDF recruits were struck by the lightning while sleeping inside the tents at the barracks. Some had been seated and relaxing when the incident occurred.

When the lightning struck, the recruits reportedly tried escaping towards other shelters, however, they fell. USDF nurses and paramedics tried assisting by administering first aid assistance, however, they called for backup from the 977 ambulances.
USDF Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) Second Lieutenant Nkosinathi Dlamini confirmed the incident and said it was a natural phenomenon which occurred after 9pm at the barracks.

“It is a very unfortunate incident which occurred when most places were experiencing lightning in the country. The 14 recruits were struck by the lightning while inside the tents used for shelter and after first aid was administered, they were all rushed to the RFM Hospital as some had fainted,” Dlamini said.

Stable

He further stated that the recruits are now in a stable condition and had all returned to the barracks.
Meanwhile, the USDF pass-out is going to be held on March 21, 2014 at Nokwane Army Headquarters.

Every morning, the recruits go through rehearsals at the barracks in preparation for the pass-out.
This is not the first unfortunate incident to befall the army as a recruit is said to have died under questionable circumstances recently.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: