Bulgaria: Lightning Killed an 11-year-old Boy in Ruse, another one is in Critical Condition

Two 11-year-old boys were struck by lightning yesterday afternoon at the "Dunav" stadium in Ruse. One of the children died, the condition of the other remains serious.

The boys are from the children's school of the local football club and were training on one of the auxiliary pitches at the "Dunav" stadium when lightning struck.

The injured children were taken by 2 ambulances to the two university hospitals in the city. The boy was brought to "Kanev" hospital in clinical death. He was resuscitated for an hour, but the doctors were unable to save him.

The other child was taken to "Medica" Hospital, also clinically dead. The resuscitation team on duty was able to restore his basic vital signs. He is intubated, in a medically induced coma, and in critical condition. Consultations are underway to determine if there are additional disabilities, the health facility said.

"The child is in an extremely serious condition. From all the tests that have been done, it appears that it is a case of severe damage to the whole body as a result of the trauma. There is talk of affecting the heart, liver and lungs, with brain drain. At the moment he is stabilized," said Dr. Blanche Angelova from UMBAL "Medica" to Nova TV on Thursday morning.

"If necessary, I have permission from the owners of the hospital to seek pediatric intensive care from 'Pirogov' hospital", Angelova pointed out. She emphasized that she cannot commit to a prognosis, but the doctors are doing everything necessary.

"The stadium has been under concession since 2018, for five years it has not been managed by the municipality, but by a concessionaire," said the mayor of Ruse, Pencho Milkov. He stressed that a compliance check was being launched.

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