A young boy is in a critical but stable condition after his heart stopped when he was struck by lightning on a beach in NSW's Illawarra region on Australia Day.
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NSW Ambulance chief inspector Terry Morrow said the boy was believed to be in the water at the time of the strike, which caused his heart to go into cardiac arrest and his breathing to stop.
The boy also suffered burns to his chest in the incident, Insp Morrow told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday.
Surf lifesavers patrolling nearby commenced CPR on the nine-year-old with the help of a doctor who was on the beach with her family at the time.
Emergency services responded to calls the boy had been injured while swimming in Warilla Beach at Barrack Point, near Shellharbour, about 5.20pm.
Paramedics and the critical care medical team treated him for burns to his chest, according to a NSW Ambulance spokesperson.
They were able to re-establish the boy's heartbeat and breathing.
A Toll rescue helicopter was on the scene, but the boy was taken to Westmead Children's Hospital via road under a police escort, where he remained in a critical but stable condition on Friday.
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The helicopter was dispatched from Albion Park with a doctor and intensive care paramedic who assisted in stabilising the boy.
The boy was unable to be transferred to hospital by helicopter due to the ongoing electrical storm, Insp Morrow added.
The tragic incident occurred shortly after a storm cell lashed the region.
A severe weather warning for hail and heavy rainfall was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology about 5pm on Thursday.
- with Australian Associated Press
