Inside the family home struck by lightning leaving 10 foot hole and £20,000 worth of damage
Lightning Strike Leaves £20,000 Damage and 10-Foot Hole in Family Home
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A Shocking Event in Gristhorpe
Tara Craven, a 28-year-old mother of two, now faces a £20,000 repair bill after a lightning strike transformed her family home into a scene of destruction. The incident occurred on Wednesday, March 25, at 8pm, when a ‘bomb-like’ explosion created a gaping 10-foot hole in their three-bedroom house near Filey, North Yorkshire.
“We had no idea what had happened—other than it came as a huge shock, it was terrifying,” said Mrs. Craven, who is four weeks away from childbirth.
What Happened During the Strike
At the time, Mrs. Craven was washing dishes while her husband Joseph, 32, bathed their two young sons. The sudden tremor and flickering lights left them dazed before the family fled outside with their dog to assess the damage.
“Outside, all the car alarms were blaring, and the house began filling with dust and a strong electrical burning smell,” she described.
Firefighters arrived to deal with the aftermath, which included a damaged chimney and a portion of the roof torn away. Inside, the strike had left walls in ruins, ceilings collapsed, and the conservatory roof shattered. The family’s television also exploded, spreading debris across the living room.
Aftermath and Relocation
With electricity shut off for safety, the family was temporarily housed at a Scarborough Travelodge. The next day, Mrs. Craven found bricks scattered up to 30 feet from the house, a clear sign of the strike’s intensity. One of these bricks even damaged a neighboring home and struck the roof of another car.
“At least no one was hurt or worse, so we have to count our blessings,” she added.
Other homes in the Gristhorpe area lost power after a nearby telegraph pole was hit by the storm. The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service noted that crews from Scarborough and Filey checked properties for fire risks and advised residents. Electrical sockets were blown out, and the incident was handed over to electricity board engineers.
Further Investigation
Metro has sought comments from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Northern Powergrid to provide more details on the event’s cause and impact.
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