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HMAS
Leeuwin alongside.
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By
Graham Davis
Four
sailors from HMAS Leeuwin have survived an unusual act of nature
which saw a bolt of lightning strike the upheld sword of a guard
commander and then arc to his own body and two of his shipmates.
The incident occurred while Leeuwin was in the Java Sea and the
guard party was on the flight deck doing some training for the
Sunset Ceremony.
There were tropical rain clouds and some rain two nautical miles
away but no indication of thunder or lightning.
A bolt of lightning appeared to strike the ship’s side with an
arc conducted by the guard commander’s drawn sword also affecting
two other members of the ship’s company The ship reported that
it was the only lightning strike observed.
Guard practice was stopped and the affected officer and sailors
were observed in the sick bay for the next hour.
They all fully recovered.
