Two boys described how they lost their sight for a few seconds after they were struck by lightning.

The evidence of Thomas Sunderland and Matthew Bell, both 12, was read out yesterday (Weds)at the Oxford inquest on their friend Daniel Foster, also 12, of Chibnall Close, Chalgrove, who died one-and-a-half hours later.

All three boys were running across the village recreation ground to get out of heavy rain during a thunderstorm on Saturday, August 1.

Matthew Bell, of French Lawrence Way, told the hearing in written evidence yesterday how they had been playing football against a wall when it started to rain.

They tried to shelter under some trees but the rain came down harder and they were getting wet so they decided to go to Daniel's house nearby.

Matthew said: "TDaniel was kicking a football. We were about halfway across when the next thing I remember was being thrown backwards through the air. I think I was unconscious for about ten seconds.

"I tried to stand up a couple of times but I couldn't. I couldn't see at first but it quickly returned to normal. Daniel was laid on his tummy and Tom said we had been struck by lightning. I had a really bad headache."

Thomas, who lives in the same road as Matthew, also lost his sight for a while, was unconscious for a few seconds and had a headache afterwards.

He said: "I found myself lying on my stomach. I got up straightaway but felt a bit dizzy."

The two boys ran to alert Daniel's mum Mrs Linda Foster, who went to Daniel in the recreation ground. Paramedics treated him before taking him to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where he died. Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Stephen Gould, of the John Radcliffe, told the hearing he had never before had to carry out a post mortem examination on the victim of a lightning strike.

Daniel had various burn marks on his body and Dr Gould gave the cause of death as a lightning strike - a form of electrocution.

CThe Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "This was a tragic incident for his parents and his friends and I dare say people in Chalgrove will be saddened by what has happened.

"I join them in tendering sympathy to his parents."

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