After Lightning Accident in the Hautes-Pyrenees: How to Protect Yourself During Thunderstorms

Hautes-Pyrenees – 04.08.2026: Two young people who were struck by lightning in the Hautes-Pyrenees on Monday, August 3, are now in stable condition, according to Franceinfo. They are no longer in life-threatening danger. The accident is a reminder of a basic warning: as soon as thunder can be heard, there is also a risk of lightning in the surrounding area. Outdoor activities should then be stopped immediately.

The best protection is provided by an enclosed, solid building. Meteo-France advises keeping away from isolated trees, forest edges, masts, metal fences and bodies of water. Open areas, mountain ridges and shorelines are particularly dangerous. Anyone swimming, fishing, paddling or on a boat should leave the water immediately and seek shelter in a building. Small, open shelters do not provide reliable protection.

An enclosed passenger car with a metal body can provide protection in the event of a lightning strike because the current is conducted over the outer shell. The windows should remain closed, and occupants should avoid touching metal parts inside the vehicle where possible. However, driving can itself become dangerous in heavy rain, hail or strong gusts. The car should therefore be parked in a safe place, neither under trees nor in low-lying or flood-prone areas.

Anyone unable to reach a solid shelter in open terrain should avoid elevated positions, crouch down and keep their distance from other people. Lying down is wrong: a larger contact area with the ground increases the danger from electrical currents. Meteo-France recommends insulating yourself from the ground with a backpack or rolled-up equipment where possible. Seeking shelter under an isolated tree is among the most dangerous reactions.

Caution is also necessary inside a building. The government information platform Info.gouv.fr recommends disconnecting electrical devices from the power supply where possible and not using water pipes during the thunderstorm. Showering, bathing and using corded telephones should be avoided. Mobile phones, however, do not increase the risk of a direct lightning strike as long as they are not being charged from the mains. Windows, doors and balconies should also be avoided.

After a lightning strike, assistance must not be delayed out of fear of electric shock. People who have been struck do not retain an electrical charge and can be touched immediately. In France, the emergency numbers to call are 112 or 15. If normal breathing is absent, resuscitation measures must be started until emergency services arrive. Since thunderstorm cells can form quickly and change their path, Meteo-France also recommends checking official weather warnings before going on excursions. Thunderstorms are particularly common in France during the summer; mountain regions such as the Pyrenees are especially at risk because of rapid weather changes.