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Baby boy survives lightning strike... despite being strapped to back of teenage mother who was killed
By Ian Evans
Last updated at 2:49 PM on 30th November 2010
A baby boy survived a lightning strike which killed his mother on whose back he was being carried. Cattle herders discovered the body of mum Jabulile Hlophe after hearing nine-month-old Phiwokwakhe crying following the violent thunderstorm in Swaziland. They found her badly burnt and blistered but the baby alive and immediately called for help. It is thought he fell from her back when the lightning struck.
Young Phiwokwakhe Hlophe is now being cared for by his grandmother
The baby boy was badly blistered but survived the strike that killed his 14-year-old mother
A passing motorist took the mother and baby to a nearby hospital but it was too late to save her. The 14-year-old mother, who had gone out to get money, was also caring for her elderly father Mbongwa whose wife died five years ago.
He told the Swazi Observer: 'I was worried when she failed to come home on time with the money because I wanted to buy salt and sugar. I never thought she was in danger or even dead but thought she might have gone to another homestead because of the heavy rain.
'In the middle of the night one of my brothers came to my home asking for the baby’s blanket but did not explain the reason why he wanted it. 'I was confused and never asked him because he was in the company of police and looked like he was rushing somewhere.
In the early hours of Sunday he came again with some family members and told me what had happened,' he said.
By Ian Evans
Last updated at 2:49 PM on 30th November 2010
A baby boy survived a lightning strike which killed his mother on whose back he was being carried. Cattle herders discovered the body of mum Jabulile Hlophe after hearing nine-month-old Phiwokwakhe crying following the violent thunderstorm in Swaziland. They found her badly burnt and blistered but the baby alive and immediately called for help. It is thought he fell from her back when the lightning struck.
Young Phiwokwakhe Hlophe is now being cared for by his grandmother
The baby boy was badly blistered but survived the strike that killed his 14-year-old mother
A passing motorist took the mother and baby to a nearby hospital but it was too late to save her. The 14-year-old mother, who had gone out to get money, was also caring for her elderly father Mbongwa whose wife died five years ago.
He told the Swazi Observer: 'I was worried when she failed to come home on time with the money because I wanted to buy salt and sugar. I never thought she was in danger or even dead but thought she might have gone to another homestead because of the heavy rain.
'In the middle of the night one of my brothers came to my home asking for the baby’s blanket but did not explain the reason why he wanted it. 'I was confused and never asked him because he was in the company of police and looked like he was rushing somewhere.
In the early hours of Sunday he came again with some family members and told me what had happened,' he said.
