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A Brazilian tour guide lost his life due to an unexpected lightning strike while guiding a group of hikers on a trail.
According to the Daily Mail, Leilson de Souza, aged 36, was leading a group of hikers on a tour of Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro when he was hit by a lightning bolt.
A video that has caused concern was obtained by nearby media outlets, featuring hiker Karlla Araújo da Silva, 26, capturing her immediate response to the incident.
The hiker, accompanied by her spouse and a group of companions, was recording a video of herself and the scenic overlook at the summit they had recently reached.
Prior to focusing on herself, she filmed fellow hikers taking a break on a rock and a man named Mr. De Souza, wearing a green backpack and black cap, approaching a cliff edge. This would later be the last moments captured of the guide before his passing.
While Ms Da Silva recorded herself, there was suddenly a loud noise. This caused the hiker to scream and lower her phone, capturing her terrified expression before she ended the recording.
The hiker mentioned that their entire group was informed about the possibility of rain during their hike. However, they chose to proceed with the expedition, considering the unpredictable weather conditions. This information was shared with Brazilian news source G1.
The footage shows Mr. De Souza just moments before he was fatally struck.
This was the final journey the pair would embark on before they were scheduled to go back to Mato Grosso on Monday.
The team was prepared to embark on a four-hour journey to the peak of Pedra da Gávea by hiking and utilizing rappel equipment.
“Once we were halfway there, it began to rain lightly. The guide inquired if we wanted to continue, and the group unanimously agreed to do so. The guide mentioned that there was a possibility of reaching the end and experiencing a sunny view,” Ms Da Silva reported to the news source.
After the guide, who she claimed had been hiking for about ten years, was hit, she described feeling “overwhelmed and hopeless.”
She expressed that we were in a state of desperation where all I could do was cry.
“I desired to descend, but simultaneously, I was filled with fear as there was a possibility of getting struck by more lightning.”
Ms. Da Silva was recording a video of herself after finishing a section of the hike, just moments before disaster struck.
She recounted that the entire group was stunned in the moments following the incident. Ms. Da Silva attempted to call for a rescue team, but was unable to speak.
Her spouse ultimately contacted the fire department, and a helicopter arrived to retrieve Mr. De Souza’s remains.
According to reports, Mr De Souza’s brother, who was undergoing training to become a tour guide, escorted the hikers back.
Unfortunately, Mr. De Souza’s passing occurred following a separate unexpected lightning strike earlier this month that took the life of 34-year-old mother of two, Froilanis Rivas, while she was on a beach in Columbia.
Ms. Rivas was struck by a bolt which caused her to go into cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, she ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed away.
According to the National Library of Medicine, there are around 24,000 deaths caused by lightning globally every year, along with ten times as many injuries.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 40 million instances of lightning striking the ground in the US annually. However, the likelihood of an individual being struck is less than one in a million.
90% of individuals who are hit by lightning are able to survive.
Source: independent.co.uk
