Colossal lightning strike caught on camera leaves racegoer ‘levitating in mid-air’ amid terrifying scenes
A COLOSSAL lightning strike that was caught on camera left a racegoer ‘levitating’ in mid-air amid terrifying scenes at Beverley racecourse.
The gigantic bolt struck on Saturday as part of an electrical storm that hit the course just before racing started.
A yellow weather warning was already in place for the East Riding of Yorkshire track.
But no one could have predicted the massive surge of electricity that struck one part of the racecourse in particular.
The enormous bolt was captured in TV footage reminiscent of a Hollywood disaster movie – and the effects were just as dramatic.
Racecourse boss Sally Iggulden told the Racing Post that one racegoer was left ‘levitating’ due to the force and impact of the bolt.
She said: “Totally out of the blue we had one lightning strike at 12.30pm and the noise was colossal.
“I can’t tell you how loud the bang was.
“One of the car park attendants in the course enclosure went down.
“He had his radio clipped to his side pocket and we think that flashed with a massive spark and was frazzled and sent him to the floor. He was totally fine.
“A few others fell over with the shock of it.
“There was a guy sat on a stool that lifted off the ground and levitated forward with him on it.”
The huge bolt struck the presentation podium in the centre of the parade ring, where winning owners, trainers and jockeys congregate for photos.
It struck at 12.30pm, some 30 minutes after gates opened to punters on one of their busiest racedays of the year.
No one was hurt but the first race was delayed because horses had to be moved back to the saddling boxes.
While there was no further lightning there was consistent thunder throughout the afternoon.
And the rain poured down, with the going was changed from good to firm to good to soft.
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