Grandfather dies after being struck by lightning on race track

A grandfather hit by lightning at a race course in Western Australia has lost his fight for life.

Doug Fernihough, a part-time barrier attendant, was filling in divots following a race at Northam, east of Perth, last Thursday, when a bolt of lightning came down.

He spent the past week in Royal Perth Hospital fighting for life but sadly passed away overnight.

Witnesses said the lightning bolt came “from nowhere”.

“It was extraordinary … it sort of descended from nowhere. This bolt of lightning and a crack of thunder just shot through the Adams Alley where we are at the race course,” race caller Darren Mcauley told 6PR at the time.

“We all jumped and didn’t think too much more of it other than the shock of the noise.

“Five minutes had elapsed and I noticed a piece of railing down up near the 200 metre mark, and then looked up further beyond and there was arms waving.

“I looked through the binoculars and a gentleman was laying prostrate on the track,” Mr Mcauley said.

WorkSafe is investigating the incident.