Whether they love them or hate them, the spectacular electrical storms that light up the Australian skies live long in the memory of most grey nomads.
During the early part of the wet season in the north, these light shows can become daily events. A few years ago, one single thunderstorm over Darwin produced 1,634 lightning flashes in just a few hours, more than Perth would see in an entire year.
However, the death of an Australian man in a lightning strike at America’s Grand Canyon National Park is a reminder of the dangers that come with these awesome displays of nature’s power. Ballarat man, Jonathan Crowden, 21, was killed while hiking along the popular South Kaibab Trail.
In Australia, lightning reportedly accounts for 5 to 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries each year. However, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicts these figures are likely to increase, with the growing number of retired people engaged in outdoor, recreational activities.
This picture was taken by a friend of mine while working at Uluru camel farm – Uluru photography Top shot Damien congrats.