Australia Weather News

A woman has described her shock after learning her father had been seriously hurt and her dog killed in a lightning strike in suburban Perth on Thursday morning.

Karyn Avalos said she was at work when she received a call from her husband delivering the awful news.

Her father, Michael Day, was walking her dog Messi in Hamersley about 8:30am when the bolt struck.

Mr Day, 78, suffered burns to his abdomen and thigh and Messi was killed.

Ms Avalos said she went to the site where her father had been struck.

"His T-shirt had been shredded, so we picked up parts of his shirt and handkerchief," she said.

She said her father remained in hospital and was in a lot of pain.

"We're so relieved that my dad is fine," she said.

"But we are devastated that we've lost our much-loved dog.

"Everyone is just shocked."

Girls hospitalised

In Perth's east teenager Georgia Rizzi was injured by a lightning strike on her school tennis court, saying she felt her "spine vibrate" after a bolt hit a nearby basketball hoop and hurt her and a friend.

The 16-year-old was one of three people in Perth taken to hospital on Thursday due to injuries caused by lightning strikes after a thunderstorm moved over the city.

Ms Rizzi was at school in Mount Helena where she suffered a burn.

Describing the moments leading up to the strike, the teenager said she and her friends noticed thunder and lightning while walking out to her school's sports courts.

"Everyone's hair started sticking up," she said.

"And then there was a loud bang."

Ms Rizzi said the lightning struck a nearby basketball hoop before hurting her and her friend.

"I remember feeling pain on my head and my spine vibrate," she said.

"I started crying because I felt [numb] in my feet."

Ms Rizzi said her friends helped her to the school office where teachers assessed the two girls and noticed they were stuttering and were struggling to stand.

She said the teachers took her and her friend to a nearby room and advised them to lay on the floor with their feet elevated before an ambulance arrived and took her to hospital.

While at hospital, Ms Rizzi said several tests were completed including one on her heart, before she was discharged and told to monitor her symptoms.

She said other than some pain in her spine she is feeling well.

A spokeswoman for the WA Department of Education told the ABC there were no witnesses to the lightning strike reported at the school.

"The department is aware of two school students in the Perth Hills who reported being struck by lightning and feeling unwell this morning," the spokeswoman said in a statement.

"School staff responded quickly, and as a precaution the students were taken to hospital by St John ambulance for further assessment."

'Never heard of that happening'

St John WA manager Deane Coxall said it was incredibly rare for three people to be injured by lightning strikes in one day.

"I've been in this job almost 15 years and I have never heard of that happening, especially here in Western Australia," Mr Coxall said.

"It is an incredibly unfortunate and unlikely event, I would be very surprised if we ever saw it again."

Mr Coxall urged people to be careful in stormy conditions.

"As much as the risk is minimal, I think everyone needs to be aware that particularly during electrical storms, there is still a chance of this occurring," he said.

"So protect yourself first and foremost.

"If anyone in the area does see someone affected by a lightning strike, then call 000."

BOM meteorologist Caroline Crow said about 10,000 lightning strikes were recorded during the thunderstorms, which were widespread across the metropolitan area and the south of WA.

It's estimated about 100 people in Australia are struck by lightning each year, and between five to ten people die from their injuries.