Man and two children badly injured in lightning strike

The man and a five-year-old boy are fighting for their lives, while a seven-year-old girl was seriously injured during the incident at Lisburn in Co Antrim.

It is understood the three people had been at a school sports event at Laurehill Road when they were hit.

Killowen Primary School in Lisburn has declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for the South Eastern Area Health and Social Services Trust said the adult was in a critical condition at Lagan Valley Hospital and would be transferred to an intensive care unit as soon as practically possible.

The two children were taken by ambulance to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast for treatment to burns

A spokesman for the Belfast Health Trust confirmed the boy was critically ill and that the girl was in a serious condition.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it sent a number of rapid response and A&E crews to the scene.

Northern Ireland has been basking in sunshine for the past week, but there were warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms for parts of the region on Tuesday.

On Monday, thousands of homes were left without power following lightning strikes in the Republic.

Speaking from Stormont, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said his thoughts were with the affected family.