bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Sarah Zheng

A weather anchorman in northeastern China was hit by what appeared to be lightning sparks while filming during a thunderstorm on Monday.
The anchor, Lu Xiaodong, had his live broadcast on the stormy weather in Dalian, Liaoning province, interrupted after a spark struck his hand and umbrella that morning, local news network Dalian TV reported.
Chinese woman struck by lightning while trying to give an umbrella to her son during storm
Lu was reporting under his green umbrella when a purple streak zigzagged across the sky and a crackling sound was heard, video footage showed.
Lu immediately cried out and dropped the umbrella he was holding.

At the time of the incident at 9am, the city was experiencing a thunderstorm and foggy conditions, with visibility down to just 2km. The temperature was 12 degrees Celsius.
In a subsequent interview with Dalian TV, Lu said he saw yellow sparks flying from his hand as well as from his cameraman’s umbrella frame and handle.
Three people killed by lightning as heavy rains flood Guangxi
His hand felt like it had been hit by an electric current that travelled up to his forearm, he said.
“My hand was numb, and I could see on the back of my hand and my umbrella stick [giving off] yellow electric current-like [sparks],” Lu said.
“The video didn’t capture the sparks, probably because the electric current was relatively small. Although if the video really did capture the current hitting my hand, then I probably wouldn’t be standing here giving this interview.”


Internet users commended Lu for braving the storm to report the weather. Some also advised caution while reporting during thunderstorms.
“It’s dangerous, young man. Next time, pay attention to safety. If your mother saw this, she would probably faint,” one internet user wrote.
Hong Kong's biggest lightning storms of 2016
“Lightning won’t avoid striking you just because you’re the weather anchor,” another said.
People are advised to avoid metal objects when outdoors during stormy weather, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website. It noted that umbrellas could increase one’s chances of being struck by lightning if it made the person “the tallest object in the area”.


China wife of gay husband contests estate against his lover and parents after man’s death

Pursuit of hoppiness: why China’s cash-conscious drinkers have embraced craft beers

Why Chinese women like me are done being quiet and ‘appropriate’

Elite success stories are cold comfort for disillusioned young workers

China society

Chinese weather anchorman struck by lightning sparks while filming

Lu Xiaodong was reporting during stormy weather in Dalian, Liaoning province, on Monday morning. Photo: Handout

=== NO ARCHIVE IMAGE === ATN. LIGHTNING25. A TV anchor was struck by lightening while broadcasting live the bad weather. UNDATED HANDOUT

News

China

People & Culture