Primary school staff praised after lightning strike terror

Education Minister Peter Weir said staff at Killowen Primary School should be commended for how they managed the “terrible” situation.

A man and a five-year-old boy are fighting for their lives, while a seven-year-old girl was seriously injured during the incident.

It is understood the three people had been at a school sports event at Laurehill Road when they were hit.

Killowen Primary School in Lisburn has declined to comment.

Mr Weir said: “I am shocked and saddened to hear of the incident outside Killowen Primary School today. I commend the staff at the school for how they managed the situation and their rapid response to help those who were injured.

“My thoughts are with the children and the parent who were injured and with the rest of the school community who have been affected by today’s terrible events.”

A spokeswoman for the South Eastern Area Health and Social Services Trust said the adult was in a critical condition at Lagan Valley Hospital and would be transferred to an intensive care unit as soon as practically possible.

The two children were taken by ambulance to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast for treatment to burns

A spokesman for the Belfast Health Trust confirmed the boy was critically ill and that the girl was in a serious condition.