Tourists struck by lightning and flights disrupted as storms ravage NSW

The Three Sisters from Echo Point in the Blue Mountains National Park at Sunset.

A series of severe storms rolled across NSW yesterday, injuring two tourists and disrupting some flights.

Around 2pm, a pair of tourists were struck by lightning in the Blue Mountains National Park at Katoomba.

According to ABC News, a 16-year-old boy was walking up a metal staircase and a 34-year-old was holding a metal railing when the lightning hit, causing them both electrical shock injuries, with the teenager receiving entry and exit wounds to his arms and feet as well as burns on his torso.

Both are reportedly in a stable condition in Nepean Hospital.

Meanwhile, both Sydney and Canberra airport suffered minor disruptions and a few cancellations as a result of the storms.

A spokesperson from Canberra Airport told Travel Weekly the airport was not affected by the golf-ball-sized hail. However, a Qantas spokesperson confirmed some operations in Canberra were disrupted.

At Sydney airport, Travel Weekly understands there were 10 flights cancelled by domestic airlines proactively in anticipation of potential disruptions.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson told Travel Weekly that some flights were disrupted “as a result of thunderstorms in the vicinity of Sydney Airport and due to a reduced number of arrivals and departures in and out of Sydney Airport as mandated by Air Traffic Control”.

“All passengers were re-accommodated onto other Virgin Australia services on the same day,” the spokesperson said.

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