Ruer killed by lightning bolt as storms batter Italy

Mario Pantanali, from Vicenza, was taking part in the Trail Dei Tre Castelli event when he was hit by a lightning bolt while ruing along a 1,100 metre-high track, close to Mount Cuaan in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.

Conces were raised after he failed to make it to the finishing line. A mountain search team was dispatched and his body was found a few hours later with severe bus to his chest and a leg.

Pantanali had been ruing along a 32km route that took him through a densely wooded path.

The organizers of the race wrote on Facebook on Monday moing: “At this time our only thoughts and words are for Mario and his family.”

The accident came as violent storms swept through much of Italy over the weekend, brought on by cyclone Poppea.

Red and higher orange weather alert waings were issued for most of Italy’s northe regions, while waings were also issued in Lazio, Molise and Sicily.

The low air pressure brought by the cyclone saw temperatures plummet by up to ten degrees Celsius nationwide.

Strong winds and heavy rain are forecast to hit the north again on Thursday, before sunshine and warmer temperatures retu in time for the weekend, according to 3bmeteo.com.