Two Young Belgians Stable After Lightning Strike in Pyrenees
Two young Belgians struck by lightning while hiking in the French Pyrenees are in stable condition and conscious, according to the prosecutor’s office of Tarbes. The 14-year-old adolescent and 21-year-old young man were airlifted to hospitals after the incident on Monday, August 3, and are no longer in life-threatening danger.
The Incident
The two hikers were part of a group of approximately 15 people walking on the GR10 trail at an altitude of 2,700 meters near Cauterets in the Hautes-Pyrénées department when a sudden thunderstorm caught them by surprise in the mid-afternoon. The group was hiking without a guide between the Oulettes de Gaube refuge and the Bayssellance refuge.
According to VRT NWS, the department was under yellow thunderstorm vigilance by Météo-France at the time. The prosecutor’s office noted that while storms had been forecast, the intensity of the storm cell was not predicted. “A storm cell arrived at great speed at their level, this intensity having not been announced nor predictable on weather bulletins, even though storms had been signaled,” the parquet stated, as reported by RTL Info.
Rescue Operation
The 14-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and was found unconscious, with a lightning entry point at the ear and exit point at the foot. The 21-year-old was struck in the thorax and suffered external burns. Jean-Michel Rodé, Major of the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM) of Pierrefitte-Nestalas, described the rescue operation to TF1 Info: “Thanks to a relatively short weather window, they managed to provide first aid and quickly load both victims onto the helicopter to evacuate them directly to Tarbes hospital.”
Both victims were airlifted by the Choucas 65 helicopter. The 21-year-old remained at Tarbes hospital, while the 14-year-old was transferred to Pau. One of the victims is from Hoeilaart in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, as confirmed by the local gendarmerie.
Medical Condition
By Tuesday, August 4, at midday, the prosecutor’s office of Tarbes confirmed both victims were “stable and conscious.” In a statement, the parquet said: “Both victims are conscious and their condition is stable. They are currently in the hospital. They are not in life-threatening danger, but the doctors cannot yet make statements about the consequences.”
No Investigation Opened
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that no investigation was opened, as no criminal offense or negligence was identified. “It is a natural and unintentional phenomenon and there is no question of negligence,” the parquet stated. The La Dépêche du Midi reported that the alert was given to PGHM rescuers shortly after the incident, with the helicopter struggling to land due to bad weather conditions.
Lightning Safety in the Mountains
The incident has prompted renewed calls for caution among hikers. The gendarmerie emphasized the importance of checking weather forecasts before departing on mountain hikes. “If a thunderstorm approaches, do not hold metal objects in your hands, avoid high points such as a mountain top, rock or tree, do not run and try to crouch,” the gendarmerie advised, as reported by VRT NWS.
According to La Croix, approximately 100 to 300 people are struck by lightning in France each year, with fewer than 10 deaths annually. About 14% of lightning strikes occur in mountainous areas, and strikes are most frequent in summer.
This incident follows similar events in recent years, including a couple struck by lightning in the Pyrenees in August 2025 and three alpinists killed by lightning in the Austrian Tyrol in June 2025.
What to Watch For
While both victims are now stable, doctors have cautioned that they cannot yet determine the long-term consequences of the lightning strikes. The 14-year-old’s transfer to Pau hospital suggests ongoing specialized care. As the summer hiking season continues, authorities are urging all mountain visitors to remain vigilant about rapidly changing weather conditions in high-altitude environments.