Motorcyclist killed by lightning strike

SHAH ALAM: A motorcyclist died when he was struck by lightning on the road at Kampung Seri Cheeding in Banting about 25 km from here Tuesday (May 2) afternoon.

Kuala Langat District police chief Supt Ahmad Ridhwan Mohd Nor @ Saleh said the victim, a 50-year-old local, was on his way to work at a factory in Bandar Mahkota, Banting when the incident occurred at about 6.20pm.

He said while passing from the Rimbayu Bridge to the Seri Cheeding Tea Plantation, the victim was struck by a lightning bolt and fell off his motorcycle and lost consciousness.

Ahamd Ridhwan said passers-by lifted the victim onto the side of the road and called the emergency line and ambulance but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

"The lightning bolt had punched two holes in the road and the victim suffered injuries on the right side of the neck as well as bruises on the stomach and thigh due to lightning strikes, in addition to injuries on the chin and knees when he fell from his motorcycle," he said in a statement on Wednesday (May 3).

Ahmad Ridhwan said a post-mortem examination was carried out at 10am today and found that the cause of death was due to a lightning strike, and police classified the case as sudden death. - Bernama