Schoolboy in critical condition after being struck by lightning during football match in Hertford

A young boy is in a critical condition after he and a man were struck by lightning during a school football tournament.

The boy, aged 12, and the man in his 50s were struck during a district tournament at The Sele School in Hertford on Monday evening.

Staff and first aiders on the scene performed CPR on the young boy before ambulances arrived at the scene.

East Anglian Air Ambulance, two ambulance officer vehicles, an ambulance, a BASICS vehicle, and a rapid response car were dispatched to the scene.

The East of England Ambulance said that the child was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in a critical condition.

The man in his 50s was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital for further care.

Headteacher Chris Quach posted on the school’s Facebook page on Monday evening to say the lightning strike have affected “several” people.

Mr Quach thanked staff and first aiders who tended to the injured attendees while waiting for emergency services to respond.

A spokesperson for East of England Ambulance service said: “We were called at 5.16pm with reports that two people, a 12-year-old boy and a man in his 50s, had been struck by lightning in Welwyn Road, Hertford.

“We sent East Anglian Air Ambulance, two ambulance officer vehicles, an ambulance, a BASICS vehicle, and a rapid response car.

“The child was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in a critical condition and the man was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital for further care.

“Both were conveyed by land ambulance.

“We would like to thank our emergency services colleagues and members of the public at the scene who provided first aid and CPR while our crews were on their way”.