Elderly Edleen couple escapes injury during storm
The electrical fence was also hit and snapped at five different places
Today, a week ago, an elderly Edleen couple escaped serious injury when the ceiling of their home caved in after the house was struck by lightning during a heavy storm.
The whole ceiling in the kitchen and lounge area came down, said Leon (91) and Sandra (78) Verster’s daughter, Karen Glautier.
“From my understanding, a lightning bolt hit the roof and created pressure between the ceiling and roof. As the ceiling was the weakest point, it was knocked out. In the lounge, it ripped the ceiling board in half.”
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Although the ceiling only collapsed in the kitchen and lounge area the whole house was affected by the lightning. In the bedrooms the nails holding the ceilings came loose, explained Glautier.
“The light bulb shade in the bathroom exploded. The electrical fence was also hit and snapped at five different places. We heard the complex next door was also hit.”
Glautier said both her parents were in the lounge when the incident happened.
“If they didn’t have a ceiling fan, the ceiling board would have collapsed on my father. The fan arrested the board and kept it about a metre from falling where he was sitting,” said Glautier.
“My mother was also in the lounge but fortunately she was closer to the wall. The ceiling board above her stayed attached to the wall, hanging down.
“Other items damaged by the lightning included the television, the motor for the garage door and the alarm system.
“I am relieved they were not injured, although they were a bit shaken. Blessed is definitely the word I would use because my father would have been buried by the ceiling had it not been for the fitting.”
Glautier added her parents’ neighbours were very helpful after the incident and said, “Attie and Ryan from the complex came around immediately and assisted in cleaning the ceiling board and house. They were really fantastic.
“Pieter and Tiekie, who are also neighbours, were also there helping out by the time I got there. They pulled all the ceiling boards down, cleaned up and helped to attach what was hanging so there was no more danger in the house.”
