Two Australians Among 5 Killed, 3 Injured By Lightning

[sriracha john]

Perth teacher killed on Thai school trip

A Perth schoolteacher leading a group of students on an overseas trip has died after a suspected lightning strike. The 41-year old from Winthrop Baptist College is understood to have taken a group of about 15 students on an excursion to waterfalls near the town of Nong Sung in north-eastern Thailand, near the border with Laos.

The ABC understands that a thunderstorm broke out in the early afternoon (local time).

The group of year 11 students were in Thailand on a cross cultural exchange.

A teacher's assistant is believed to have been hurt.

The chairman of the school's board, Rod White, says parents have been notified but information has been limited.

"There's been an accident, details [are] sketchy, but we understand it may have been a lightning strike and unfortunately one teacher is deceased," he said.

The school is sending two teachers including the school counsellor to Bangkok tonight.

Mr White says arrangements are being made to bring the rest of the group home as soon as flights can be arranged.

The Australian Embassy is assisting the group.

- ABC (Australia) / 1 hour ago

[Scott]

My condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and students of the deceased and injured. It's a very sad holiday for these students. My thoughts are with them.

[TEFLMike]

My condolences also

Edited September 27, 2008 by TEFLMike

[sriracha john]

the death toll has risen... with additional details...

Three killed, three injured by lightning at waterfall

MUKDAHAN : Lightning killed three tourists, including an Australian teacher, and injured three others at the scenic Tad Ton waterfall in Nong Sung district when a storm hit the area yesterday afternoon. Two female Thai students, Supaporn Petcharat, 14, and Atchariya Wongwai, 17, and a teacher from Perth in Western Australia, Gregory Ian Crombie, 40, were killed, police said. The injured, two teenage Australian students and Nongnut Tongmaha, a 17-year-old Thai, were rushed to the intensive care unit from Mukdahan hospital to Ubon Ratchathani, doctors said. They were to be airlifted to Bangkok for treatment. Thongsom Paggangwaesang, 34, who led the group to the waterfall, said rain began to fall while they were swimming. Minutes later, many of those who were standing were hit by two thunderbolts and collapsed. "Before the accident, I saw a tourist talking on a mobile phone near the group," recalled Mrs Thongsom, who was two metres away. Mrs Thongsom, a resident of Maha Sarakham's Wapi Pathum district, is the sister-in-law of Crombie. The teacher was the younger brother of Mrs Thongsom's Australian husband. She acted as a guide for the Australian group, taking them to the Indochina market in Mukdahan town and to the Tad Ton waterfall. The group of Australians, consisting of three teachers and 13 students from Perth, had travelled to northern Thailand as part of a

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/280908_News/28Sep2008_news01.php

Edited September 28, 2008 by george
Topic title updated /Mod

[sriracha john]

Teacher killed by lightning in Thailand

Staff from a Perth school have headed to Thailand after a group of its students were left stranded when their teacher died in a lightning strike.

Social studies teacher Greg Crombie was leading a group of 15 students from Winthrop Baptist College on a week-long cultural exchange trip to Thailand, ABC reported today.

The group were resting near the water after a swim at Thad Tone waterfalls near the town of Nong Sung, in Thailand's north-east, when a thunderstorm struck, ABC reported.

It's believed Mr Crombie was hit by lightning.

A teaching assistant, reportedly in a serious condition, was to be evacuated by helicopter to Bangkok, about 600km from the falls, ABC said.

A year 11 student had also been hurt, it said.

The school's principal and a counsellor had flown to Thailand to be with the group and bring them home, but the earliest flight they could get back to Australia was tomorrow, ABC said.

- AAP / 2008-09-28

[sriracha john]

Thai lightning strike victim named

A Perth teacher has died and two people have been injured in a suspected lightning strike in north-eastern Thailand.

Greg Crombie, 41, was leading a group of 12 or so students from Perth's Winthrop Baptist College on a week-long cultural exchange trip to Thailand.

The social studies teacher died during an excursion to the Thad Tone waterfalls near the town of Nong Sung, near the Thailand-Laos border.

Local police say the group had been swimming and were resting by the falls when a thunderstorm struck.

A teaching assistant is in a serious condition.

He is expected to be evacuated by helicopter to Bangkok, which is about 600 kilometres away.

One of the year 11 students was also hurt.

The students have to wait until tomorrow before they can fly home.

The school board chairman Rod White says a teacher and a school counsellor flew out to Bangkok last night to support the group until they can get back to Perth.

"Unfortunately because of school holidays getting a number of people, keeping the group together, you know, once you start talking more than 10 people, [it is] difficult to get flights," he said.

"Unfortunately the trip's probably going to take longer than we would probably hope, but it's the quickest possible."

- ABC / 2008-09-28

[sriracha john]

Tad Ton Waterfall, Mukdahan province

[sriracha john]

Greg Crombie, 41, was leading a group of 12 or so students from Perth's Winthrop Baptist College on a week-long cultural exchange trip to Thailand.

Winthrop Baptist College

Our College was founded in 1994.

It is a co-educational secondary school for students Years 8 to 12.

The College offers a high standard of private education to the Southern Metropolitan Region of Perth, Western Australia.

http://www.wbc.wa.edu.au/site2/index.htm

[sriracha john]

Students to be evacuated after Thai lightning strike deaths

Two Australians thought to have been injured in a lightning strike in north-east Thailand are to be evacuated to Bangkok today.

Australian teacher Fred Crombie, 41, and two Thai students were also killed.

A male teaching assistant is in a critical condition at a hospital 600 kilometres north-east of Bangkok along with a female student.

They were part of a student group taking part in a cultural exchange tour of Thailand, led by Mr Crombie.

The group was on an excursion to a popular waterfall near the town of Nong Sung when a thunderstorm hit.

The Australian student injured during the storm has told the ABC she heard a big bang then the next thing she remembers is waking up in hospital.

Her fellow students from the Winthrop Baptist College in Perth have already been sent back to Bangkok and will head back to Australia soon.

The group was one week into a three-week tour.

- ABC / 20 minutes ago

[sriracha john]

The death toll continues to rise...

Lightning kills Australian in Thailand

An Australian teacher and three of his Thai students had been killed by lightning during a school trip to a waterfall in northeastern Thailand, police said.

Greg Crombie, a 40-year-old from Perth, had taken his class of 16 Thai and Australian students to see the picturesque waterfall in Mukdahan province, 640km northeast of Bangkok, when the storm hit.

The group, which included two other teachers, sought shelter under a tree when a bolt of lightning struck, local police Lieutenant Boonsri Detchai told AFP.

A second strike hit the tree, instantly killing Crombie and two Thai female teenagers, aged 14 and 17, he said.

A 16-year-old female Thai student died later in hospital.

An Australian teenager was in hospital in critical condition, he said.

- AAP / 18 minutes ago

[sriracha john]

Report of still another death....

Second man dies after Thailand lightning strike

A second Australian has died in hospital after a lightning strike in Thailand.

The 19-year-old youth worker, Thomas McGuinness, was accompanying a Perth school group on a three week cultural exchange tour.

He was critically injured and a 41-year-old teacher, Greg Crombie, died after lightning struck during a thunderstorm while the group was on an excursion to a popular waterfall near the town of Nong Sung.

A female student was injured and is observation in hospital.

Two Thai nationals were also killed.

The chairman of Winthrop Baptist College, Rod White, says Mr McGuinness's parents are on their way to Thailand with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The group of students will head back to Australia soon.

- ABC / 23 minutes ago

[sriracha john]

Thomas McGuinness (on Facebook)

ABC (Australia)

[animatic]

Sad report.

If it's true the reported use of a cell phone at the time is very sad.

It creates a magnetic attraction, made worse by the large expanse of flat water.

Lightning charges look for any way to go from ground to sky and back.

A 3w radio signal is a perfect transmission corridor.

Edited September 28, 2008 by animatic

[sriracha john]

*Could a helpful mod, please update the thread title to:

Two Australians Killed Among 5 Killed, 3 Injured By Lightning

thank you.

=================================================

Lightning kills 5 in Thailand

BANGKOK -- (UPDATE) Two Australians and three Thais were killed in a lightning strike during a school trip in Thailand, police said on Sunday.

Australian teacher Greg Crombie and two local girls aged 14 and 17 died instantly when a bolt of lightning hit the tree they were sheltering under after the storm began.

One of the Australian students -- 16-year-old Thomas McGuiness, who like Crombie was from Perth -- and a 16-year-old Thai girl died later in separate hospitals, police and hospital staff said.

The incident happened at a waterfall in Mukdahan province, 600 kilometers (400 miles) northeast of Bangkok.

"The first bolt of lighting struck and 30 people retreated from the waterfall and sought shelter under a big tree nearby and bought some food to eat. The second lighting bolt struck the tree," Boonsri said.

Agence France-Presse / 26 minutes ago

Edited September 28, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

*non-news details snipped*

Lightning kills two Australians

An Australian teacher and youth worker and three of their Thai students were killed by lightning during a school trip in Thailand, police said today.

Greg Crombie, a 40-year-old from Perth and a 19-year-old youth worker had taken his class of 16 Thai and Australian students to see the picturesque waterfall in Mukdahan province, 640km northeast of Bangkok, when the storm hit.

Earlier today, the college confirmed that social studies teacher Greg Crombie was killed in the storm.

Mr Crombie has children, the college said, but would not release any further personal details.

[regarding Thomas McGuiness] "His family have just arrived in Thailand and they've just been told, probably in the last half an hour," a spokeswoman said.

- ABC

[sriracha john]

School sends help to students after Thai storm deaths

The principal and a counsellor from a Perth school have arrived in Thailand to meet a group of students hit by the death of a teacher and a youth worker yesterday.

The group, from Winthrop Baptist College, was visiting popular waterfalls near the north-eastern town of Nong Sung when they were caught in a thunderstorm and struck by lightning.

Forty-one-year-old social sciences teacher Greg Crombie died, along with two Thai nationals.

They died when the thunderstorm struck a tree near where they were standing.

A 19-year-old youth worker with the group, Thomas McGuinness, died later in hospital.

The college's board chairman, Rod White, paid tribute to Mr Crombie, who was head of the society and environment department.

"[A] very popular member of staff," he said.

"The reaction from students has borne that out.

"Some sort of tribute site's been set up, just by students, so obviously he was held in very high regard by both his peers and students alike."

Mr White says plans are being made to get the group home.

"First step in the plan is to try and get the kids back to Bangkok," he said.

"Once we've got them there, we turn to the next step and try and get them back to Perth, obviously this week.

"It's just a matter of when this week."

The pair were with a group of about 15 Australians and eight Thais who were on an excursion to the Thad Tone waterfalls, about 600 kilometres north-east of Bangkok.

The group was one week into a three-week tour when the incident occurred.

Mr Crombie leaves behind four children, and his wife is expecting another child.

- ABC (Australia)

[sriracha john]

Two Aussies killed in Thai storm

Two Australians, a teacher and a youth worker, are dead after being struck by lightning at a waterfall in north-east Thailand while touring with students from a Perth school.

Winthrop Baptist College social studies teacher Gregory Crombie, 41, and 19-year-old Thomas McGuinness, died after the group was caught in an electrical storm in Khon Kaen province late yesterday.

Three Thai nationals also died after being struck by lightning, but the college says they were not with the Winthrop college student group sightseeing at the waterfall.

Mr Crombie's sister-in-law Thongsom Paggangwaesang told local media the group had been swimming at the waterfall when the storm hit at Mukdahan, 642km from Bangkok. She said two bolts of lightning struck and several people collapsed. "Before the accident, I saw a tourist talking on a mobile phone near the group," Ms Thongsom said, who had acted as a guide for the Australian group.

Some of the students were rushed to the local hospital and then transferred to the main regional township of Ubon Ratchathani, 135km south-west of Mukdahan.

"It's tragic that Greg and Thomas have died, but obviously there are other people hurting as well, not just the college," Winthrop board chairman Rod White said. "The only heart we take from that is that the college is a close-knit community. They will draw together and take some strength from each other. Also, we know that both Greg and Thomas were doing things that they were passionate about, and in a very small way I guess that sort of helps that ... they were out doing what they felt they'd been called to do."

Mr McGuinness, a friend of Mr Crombie from Perth, was not employed by the school but had joined the 14 Winthrop college students and teachers on a cultural exchange visit to Thailand.

Mr Crombie was married with four children, ABC Television said in a report from Thailand.

Winthrop principal Peter Burton and a counsellor had arrived in Thailand and met with DFAT staff in Bangkok, and they were now heading up to the Khon Kaen province to meet up with the distressed students. Students injured in the storm had rejoined the group after medical observation.

Mr White also said students had been able to speak today with their parents in Australia. Baptist churchgoers at the college campus at Murdoch, a southern Perth suburb, this morning offered prayers for the dead and injured. Mr White said the Baptist community was offering prayers for all the deceased, not just the Australians involved.

People attending a Baptist sports camp in the south of the state would gather tonight to pray, he said. "People have gone away for a long weekend so even trying to bring the community together in one place is not ... logistically possibly just yet," Mr White said. "So as quickly as we can people are praying, and I guess the one thankful thing is that there is a lot of support. We obviously just need to work quickly to get the group home ... and assist the families affected."

Australian Embassy staff in Bangkok have been assisting the group, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said today.

Federal Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull also offered his condolences to the families. "All of us recognise Australians abroad when they're injured are worthy of our support and our care," Mr Turnbull said.

- AAP / 28 minutes ago

[dumball]

Sad report.

If it's true the reported use of a cell phone at the time is very sad.

It creates a magnetic attraction, made worse by the large expanse of flat water.

Lightning charges look for any way to go from ground to sky and back.

A 3w radio signal is a perfect transmission corridor.

The cell phone usage could have facilitated the strike , but what confuses me is where these people were struck , were they still in the water , resting on the bank after a swim , or sheltering under a tree , all three places were mentioned as to where they were .

Terrible tragedy to have happened , my condolences and deepest sympathy to all concerned .

[Visionhaze]

The cell phone usage could have facilitated the strike , but what confuses me is where these people were struck , were they still in the water , resting on the bank after a swim , or sheltering under a tree , all three places were mentioned as to where they were .

Terrible tragedy to have happened , my condolences and deepest sympathy to all concerned .

It think they were hit hiding under a tree and the lightning struck the tree. My wife tells me in Thailand they are told to hide under trees during a lightning storm. Here in the US I was always told to get into the open, low to the ground, away from any tall trees. Has anyone else ever heard this?

[sriracha john]

Gregory Crombie

The Australian newspaper

Gregory Crombie

Thai Rath newspaper

==================================================================

Lightning strike teacher loved the outdoors

The daughter of an Australian teacher killed by lightning on a school trip to Thailand says he died in a way he would have wanted.

Perth teacher Greg Crombie, 41, died instantly, and youth worker, Tom McGuinness, 19, died later in hospital, after lightning struck a tree they were sheltering under during a storm on Saturday.

Two young Thai women were also killed and one of the Perth students was injured. The group of about 12 students from Perth's Winthrop Baptist College were visiting the Tad Ton waterfall in northeast Thailand.

Mr Crombie, a father of four from Willagee, south of Perth, was teaching his teenage students about compassion and community service by visiting orphanages and a leper colony in poor outlying villages when the social studies teacher died.

His wife, Caroline, is eight months pregnant.

Mr Crombie's 16-year-old daughter Molly said she was proud of her dad, who had died helping others and doing what he loved. "He's very cool," she told The Australian. "It's awful, but in a way it's the best way for him. He loved the outdoors."

Her grandmother, Gillian Rose, told of her son-in-law's deep commitment to helping others. "The visit was part of the social studies cultural learning but it became more than that to him," she said. "It became such a life-changing experience for students. He could see the value, not only for the Thais, but for the kids with him." Mr Crombie had led several similar school visits and was planning to extend the cultural exchanges next year by taking church groups as well.

Mrs Rose said he became interested in Thailand through his Thai-born sister-in-law, Som, who acted as a translator. The students were just one week into a planned three-week tour when the tragedy occurred.

They had been swimming at the waterfall minutes before the storm struck. Mr Crombie and the others who died were sheltering under a tree which took the full force of a lightning bolt.

The students will be met by consular staff and taken to Bangkok today.

- The Australian / 2008-09-29

Edited September 28, 2008 by sriracha john

[cloudhopper]

The cell phone usage could have facilitated the strike , but what confuses me is where these people were struck , were they still in the water , resting on the bank after a swim , or sheltering under a tree , all three places were mentioned as to where they were .

Terrible tragedy to have happened , my condolences and deepest sympathy to all concerned .

It think they were hit hiding under a tree and the lightning struck the tree. My wife tells me in Thailand they are told to hide under trees during a lightning storm. Here in the US I was always told to get into the open, low to the ground, away from any tall trees. Has anyone else ever heard this?

Yes the report said the tree under which the group was sheltering was struck. After a strike, very high currents run out into the ground in all directions from the base of the tree, and anyone in that immediate area can be subject to a very high voltage gradient depending on their position. This is why multiple people died in this strike and why this is an all-too-common scenario. Mobile telephones have absolutely nothing to do with attracting a lightning strike; tall grounded conductors like trees do.

[Gumballl]

The cell phone usage could have facilitated the strike , but what confuses me is where these people were struck , were they still in the water , resting on the bank after a swim , or sheltering under a tree , all three places were mentioned as to where they were .

Terrible tragedy to have happened , my condolences and deepest sympathy to all concerned .

It think they were hit hiding under a tree and the lightning struck the tree. My wife tells me in Thailand they are told to hide under trees during a lightning storm. Here in the US I was always told to get into the open, low to the ground, away from any tall trees. Has anyone else ever heard this?

Yes the report said the tree under which the group was sheltering was struck. After a strike, very high currents run out into the ground in all directions from the base of the tree, and anyone in that immediate area can be subject to a very high voltage gradient depending on their position. This is why multiple people died in this strike and why this is an all-too-common scenario. Mobile telephones have absolutely nothing to do with attracting a lightning strike; tall grounded conductors like trees do.

Unfortunately, the average Thai will reach the conclusion that is was the mobile telephone that attracted the lightning strike, no matter that science tells them otherwise. They will continue to huddle under a tree during a lightning storm.

[sriracha john]

TAD TON WATERFALL TRAGEDY

Two more lightning strike victims die, toll now five

Two more victims of the lightning strike at Tad Ton waterfall in Nong Sung district in Mukdahan died yesterday, taking the death toll to five. Thomas McGuiness, 16, and Nongnut Tongmaha, 17, died in Ubon Ratchathani after sustaining serious injuries when they were struck by lightning while on a visit to the waterfall, the hospital said. McGuiness died at 10am and Nongnut died at 2.30am. Shannon Seignan, a 16-year-old Australian student, is being treated at the same hospital. The three were moved from Mukdahan hospital to a bigger hospital in Ubon Ratchathani on Saturday night waiting for an airlift to Bangkok. Two female students, Supaporn Petcharat, 14, and Atchariya Wongwai, 17, and a teacher from Perth, Gregory Ian Crombie, 40, were killed instantly in the incident when a storm hit the area. Crombie led the group including 11 Australian students from Winthrop Baptist College, a secondary school in Western Australia, on a cultural exchange programme. Australian Foreign Ministry spokesman Angus Mackenzie said the group was expected to return to Bangkok on Wednesday and

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/290908_News/29Sep2008_news11.php

[sriracha john]

Students return to Australia after deaths

PERTH, Australia, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A group of students from Australia were making their way home this weekend after their teacher and a youth worker with them died in Thailand.

The students from Winthrop Baptist College in Perth, Australia, were visiting Tad Ton waterfalls, northeast of Bangkok when they were caught in a thunderstorm and struck by lightning, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Sunday.

Social sciences teacher Greg Crombie, 41, died Saturday, along with three Thai nationals. A 19-year-old youth worker with the group, Thomas McGuinness, was critically injured and later died in a hospital.

Benny Ho, pastor of the Winthrop Baptist community, said everyone was saddened by the deaths.

"It's been a big tragedy, something that has shocked our hearts within our community," he said. "I think we just want to offer a prayer on their behalf."

The group, which was a week into a three-week cultural exchange program, were expected to arrive in Bangkok Sunday.

The newspaper reported the college's principal and a counselor arrived in Thailand to meet the group to escort them home to Perth.

=================================================================

Lightning strikes kills five in Thailand

In just four weeks Greg Crombie would have held his fifth child with his wife Caroline for the first time.

But the social studies teacher from Perth's Winthrop Baptist College was killed by lightning in Thailand on Saturday, along with a 19-year-old Perth youth worker, Thomas McGuinness, and three Thai girls aged 14, 16, and 17.

Mr Crombie, 41, was leading 14 year 11 students to a waterfall in a village 640 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, when an electrical storm hit. They were sheltering under a tree when lightning struck, instantly killing Mr Crombie.

Mr McGuinness, a friend of Mr Crombie's from Perth, was not employed by the school but had joined the Winthrop college students and teachers on a cultural exchange visit to Thailand. He died in hospital yesterday after being flown to Bangkok.

The group was a week into a three-week trip to teach English to Thai students and help at an orphanage, lepers colony, and Buddhist temple.

Mr Crombie's sister-in-law Thongsom Paggangwaesang told local media the group had been swimming at the waterfall when the storm hit at the village of Mukdahan. Two bolts of lightning struck and several people collapsed, she said.

Some of the students were rushed to the local hospital before being transferred to the main regional centre of Ubon Ratchathani, 135 kilometres south-west of Mukdahan.

Mr Crombie's 16-year-old daughter, Molly, said she was very proud of her father's work. "It wasn't just handing out money because that doesn't do much. It was more doing stuff that would last," she said. "It's probably the best way he would have liked to go [because] he loves the outdoors, absolutely loves the outdoors."

Mr Crombie's mother-in-law, Gillian Rose, said it was his third visit to Thailand. His sister-in-law Thongsom had been acting as the group's translator and was with him at the time of the lightning strike. "Som comes from that village, so Greg initially went to her village and I guess that's where he saw the need that was there at the orphanage, the leper colony," Ms Rose said. "This is just a wee little farmers' village. They just live in the village hall and Som's mother cooks for them.

"They don't take their mobile phones, they don't take anything, they just live in the village as the villagers do.

People sobbed openly when senior pastor Benny Ho told the congregation of the Faith Community Church, which is closely linked to the school, about the tragedy. "They stopped by a waterfall and I think lightning struck at that point and hit teacher Greg Crombie, who died instantly. His wife is actually expecting their fifth child," he said.

Pastor Bob Burton said his son, Peter, the college principal, flew to Thailand on Saturday night.

AAP / 2008-09-29

[hanno]

If it is true that they were hiding under a tree, then I am truly amazed. A teacher in particular should have known that you never, ever seek shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm.

[0Mix1up]

talk about wrong place and time

to get 5 people, i dont think that is common?

many times i have experienced lightning striking without warning

so moving to a safer place may not have been an option

sympathy to everyone affected by this

[sriracha john]

this seems to clarify the discrepancy in the various reports regarding Mr. McGuinness's age...

Lightning strike kills charity men

Students have paid tribute to an inspirational teacher killed by a lightning strike on an outing in Thailand.

Greg Crombie, 41, and 19-year-old Perth youth worker Thomas McGuinness were struck by lightning as they sheltered from a storm under a tree on Saturday.

Mr McGuinness, a friend of Mr Crombie, died in hospital yesterday.

Students of Mr Crombie say he challenged and encouraged his pupils.

"Mr Crombie was not just a teacher- he came with all the extras," wrote Tahlia Eddon, on a tribute created on Facebook.

"He was always going the little bit further for anyone who needed him! He made such a huge difference to so many lives and was an inspiration to many. He will be sadly missed and always remembered for the love and kindness he has towards everyone."

Kiarra Rodriguez wrote: "You challenged, encouraged, advised,inspired, loved, cared, helped, listened and taught everyone.You won't be forgotten because everyone has that memory of you.

"You don't know how much you will be missed and how much we have learnt from you."

Carly Merritt, who was in Thailand with Mr Crombie "in his final moments", said he had been "enjoying his life to the fullest extent" when the tragedy occurred.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked that this could happen to such an amazing man. He made such a difference to so many people around the world and will always be with us," she wrote.

Many who posted messages on the tribute site were also students who had previously visited Thailand with Mr Crombie.

"I [can't] believe this i have been to Thailand twice with Dr Crombie i always thought he was invincible," Megan Williams wrote.

Friends also posted tributes to Mr McGuiness on Facebook.

"RIP Smiley, you were one of the good guys - a great friend and a fantastic role model. Missing you plenty," wrote a friend, Rebecca Thompson.

Another, Josh Singleton, wrote: "Smiles, i remember when i was taller and your hair shorter. you have grown up to become a true MAN of God. A man we can all aspire to become, living your life for Christ, taking you where He wills and in the process being a great leader and taking others along for the ride too.

"I will truely miss your friendship and your huge smile. Love you alway brother and great mate."

On his profile, Mr McGuiness described a love for classic rock bands Led Zeppelin, Cream and Pink Floyd, and an interest in marine conservation.

"im tom...im tall, blond, thin, hyperactive and im very easily amused," he wrote of himself.

He celebrated his 19th birthday only a few weeks ago, on September 6.

- Sydney Morning Herald / 2008-09-29

[sriracha john]

Wife of killed Perth teacher speaks out

Video News link:

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?e...-t-203&c=av

[animatic]

talk about wrong place and time

to get 5 people, i dont think that is common?

many times i have experienced lightning striking without warning

so moving to a safer place may not have been an option

sympathy to everyone affected by this

Sadly if I read the reports right they broke most of the severe thunderstorm rules of safety.

Get out of the water, but stay low doing it,

don't make waves, since that can cause static potential changes.

Stay low to the ground and remove metal and jewelry since metal is an attractant

Stay off promentories etc.

Never be the highest thing in ANY area.

NEVER use a cell phone, turn it off ASAP.

Like dialing for a lightning strike at your head.

NEVER get under a BIG TREE...One of the main and oldest know rules.

It is the SHORTEST distance from sky to ground,

and is more likely to be struck or be a conduit outside it's bark for a lighting strike.

Add a cellphone under it and the rish goes up exponentially

Gettin ynder several uniform smaller trees is not as bad

IF there are other Tall trees in the area.

If no shelter just lie down in a lower area and wait it out.

Stay out of puddles water conducts electricity.

If this helps ANYONE else in the future then good.

Edited September 29, 2008 by animatic

[raylo]

Sad report.

If it's true the reported use of a cell phone at the time is very sad.

It creates a magnetic attraction, made worse by the large expanse of flat water.

Lightning charges look for any way to go from ground to sky and back.

A 3w radio signal is a perfect transmission corridor.

Understand electrical theory and reality before venturing a statement like this.