Guard killed by lightning

CEBU, Philippines - A security guard was killed after he was struck by lightning while inside his house at Sitio Tower O Tugasan, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City during the heavy rain yesterday afternoon.

The victim was identified as Jemie Canumay, 32, single, a native of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, who was staying at the place with his brother.

Canumay is a member of the Pioneer Security Agency and was working at an establishment in Barangay Banilad.

According to Police Officer 1 Reoful Adalim of Homicide Section, Canumay came home at 4:30 p.m. from duty with his clothes soaked with water because of the heavy rain.

Adalim said Canumay, who was found already topless, was possibly about to change dry clothes when he was struck by the lightning.

 “Murag paingon ni siya mag-ilis, unya basa ang lawas, posibling gidakop sa kuryente ang iyang lawas pagkatay sa kuryente,” he said.

Mario Flores, the victim’s neighbor, tried to save Canumay after noticing smoke coming from the victim’s house following the strong lightning.

However, when Flores entered the shanty, he saw the security guard already lying on the floor, topless, and unresponsive.

Adalim said the lightning might have caught the antenna of the victim’s radio, which was placed above their shanty, and the electric current reached the house and hit the victim.

He said they found inside the shanty the line wire of the radio already damaged. — (FREEMAN)