Woman struck by lightning in west Edmonton during afternoon storm

An Edmonton woman was rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning Thursday. CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson reports.

A woman was struck by lightning in west Edmonton Thursday afternoon during a severe thunderstorm.

The woman’s roommate, Laura Penner, said she saw the bolt hit her directly.

“It flashed all around her,” Penner told CTV News Edmonton. “At first, I thought it was a gunshot. But it was way too loud to be a gunshot.”

Penner called EMS while her partners administered CPR. She said medics arrived on scene about a minute after the call.

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Alberta Health Services said it received a call at approximately 4:15 p.m. for an incident near Callingwood Estates and that one adult was taken to hospital in critical condition.

The woman had just left their Callingwood home to walk to the store when she was struck.

Marty Heemryck saw the woman lying on the ground when he got off the bus.

“It’s pretty sad, just to be out for a walk and ‘BOOM,’” said Heemryck.

Penner said her roommate is still unconscious and is under sedation at the hospital.

“It’s good to hear she has a chance,” said Heemryck.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services has responded to four calls indicating lightning strikes in July and they were all over the past two days.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson