Source: Radio New Zealand
Tony’s house bus was struck by lightning. Supplied
A man says he is the “luckiest unlucky person on the planet” after his house-bus was hit by lightning during a storm.
Emergency services have rushed to a motor camp in Dudding Lake, in rural Rangitīkei after reports a tornado went through and overturned a caravan at 12.36pm.
FENZ shift manager Murray Dunbar said a fire truck was at the scene alongside ambulance staff who were assessing four patients.
St John said a patient has been taken to Whanganui Hospital in a moderate condition.
A man at the camp, Tony, said he was in his house bus at Dudding Lake camp ground – which he uses for feral cat rescue and rehabilitation – when it was struck by lightning.
He said he was the “luckiest unlucky person on the planet”, with just some minor damage to his electrical system.
Tony, who’s house bus was struck by lightning, at Dudding Lake campground. Supplied
He said the bus lurched and rattled when it was struck, and it blew wires out of the wall.
“Your whole body goes from zero to full throttle jet engine level vibration and the sound is all enveloping… strangest feeling ever.”
He said the roof now leaks but think it was just melted silicon on some joins.
Supplied / Rangitikei District Council
John and Karen Beers were in their caravan when it was moved across the ground by the strong winds.
It was dragged about three metres into a car.
“We have experienced big hail in Australia and this sounded exactly the same,” John Beers said.
“We thought, ‘not this again’. Then the whole thing started tossing and turning and we were just dragged across the ground.”
The couple weren’t injured.
Grant, who with wife Helen and dog Ollie, were also uninjured but shaken when their 5th wheeler home was hit by the tornado.
The couple hit the floor and said it was like being in a washing machine.
“An horrific noise came through. I couldn’t see the trees 40 feet away. It was actually just white going round and round and round,” Grant said.
A tornado is reported to have flipped a caravan injuring one person at a motor camp at Lake Dudding in rural Manawatū. Supplied / Rangitikei District Council
Rangitīkei District Council said it had been informed of a tornado and asked people to avoid the area until otherwise advised.
The council said its staff was assessing damage and would keep people updated as more information came to hand.
Power out to nearly 200 properties
Rangitīkei District Council said there are reports of numerous uprooted trees and some damage to surrounding buildings.
It said 180 properties in the area have been impacted by a power outage, with Powerco having since restored power to Dudding Lake homes.
It said fallen trees would be cleared.
Supplied / Rangitikei District Council
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
