Moments of horror in the Bucegi Mountains, where a teacher on a trip with 14 students was struck by lightning after the group was caught by a strong storm on the route between Omu Peak and Ialomiței Cave. The children managed to reach a stable in the area, where they asked for the help of a shepherd.
According to the representatives of the County Public Service Salvamont Salvaspeo Dâmbovița, the dramatic incident occurred while the group was descending the tourist route between Vârful Omu and Peștera Ialomiței.
“The team of the County Public Service Salvamont Salvaspeo Dâmbovița intervened to provide first aid and evacuate a person struck by lightning in the Bucegi Massif. A group of 14 children, accompanied by a teacher, were going down the Vârful Omu – Peștera Ialomiței tourist route, when they were surprised by a strong storm. In the area of Stănei Șugări, asthe teacher was struck by lightning, remaining unconscious and unable to move,” the mountain rescuers said.
The children managed to reach Stâna Șugari, where they asked for help. The shepherd in the fold immediately alerted the Salvamont dispatcher and provided information about the place of the incident and the condition of the victim.
Mountain rescuers rushed to the area and provided first aid to the teacher before her evacuation.
“A team of the County Public Service Salvamont Salvaspeo Dâmbovița moved urgently to the scene of the intervention. After providing first aid and stabilizing the victim, mountain rescuers transported the person on a stretcher, through difficult terrain, to the Salvamont Peștera Base. From the Salvamont base, the victim was taken over by the crews of the SMURD and the County Ambulance Service, who continued providing medical assistance and transport to a hospital unit”. stated the representatives of Salvamont.
Following the medical evaluation, the woman had first and second degree burns on her limbs, on approximately 30% of her body surface. She was transported to the hospital conscious. One of the students also needed medical attention and was taken to hospital after suffering a lower limb injury.
After completing the evacuation operation of the teacher, the Salvamont team returned to the field to recover the 14 children, who were safely led to the waiting bus and transported to the boarding house in Bușteni where they were staying.
Salvamont representatives draw attention to the major risks generated by storms in mountain areas and recommend that tourists leave exposed areas immediately in the event of electrical discharges.
“In the event of electrical discharges, tourists should leave exposed areas, avoid ridges, peaks and isolated metal objects and seek specialist support when the situation requires it”, the rescuers sent.
They thanked the shepherd who promptly intervened and alerted the authorities.
“We thank the shepherd from Stâna Șugari for the civic spirit and promptness with which he announced the event, as well as the SMURD crews and the County Ambulance Service for their good collaboration in managing this intervention. We ask tourists who want to reach the mountainous area of Dâmbovița County to inquire at the Salvamont points or by phone about the condition of the routes and the weather conditions”Salvamont representatives also sent.
