Lightning strike injures tourist in Poland’s Izera Mountains; rescue teams restore circulation

On Saturday 20 June 2026, a woman tourist was struck by lightning near the Orle mountain shelter in the Izera Mountains of southwestern Poland. The strike caused an immediate cardiac arrest.

Bystanders began CPR while GOPR mountain‑rescue units from Szklarska Poręba and Świeradów‑Zdrój, together with a medical rescue team stationed in Szklarska Poręba, arrived within minutes. Using a defibrillator (AED) available at the shelter, rescuers succeeded in restoring spontaneous circulation. The patient was then transferred by ambulance to a hospital in Jelenia Góra. Rescue crews highlighted the quick reaction of the witnesses and the importance of having emergency equipment on site. Meteorological services subsequently issued a storm alert for the region.