Skegness Magazine

LIGHTNING killed a six-year-old girl holidaymaker on Skegness beach one Sunday in 1979 — the day it struck twice in the same place.

But her little sister, who had stopped breathing, was saved.
The sisters were in a party of holidaymakers walking along a breakwater to paddle in the sea. All but Louise Hough, the little girl who died, were thrown from the breakwater when lightning struck.
Louise, of 12 Witham Close, Newark, remained standing and was killed by a second blast, an inquest heard on Monday.

SECOND BLAST
Mr Eric Hough, the girls’ father, ran to help four-year-old Lianne Hough after the first blast. But he had to crawl through mud to reach her when the second lightning blast temporarily paralysed his leg.
Cub Scout Leader Terrence Watson, of Pudsey. Leeds, said he gave Lianne cardiac massage while another man gave her mouth – to – mouth resuscitation — and she started breathing again.
But efforts to revive Louise – who died instantly, the inquest heard – were in vain.
Eight people, including Mr Hough and the girls’ step mother, Mrs Angela Hough, received treatment in hospital — suffering burns, bruises, or shock. They were all discharged.
Pathologist Dr Robert Cross told the inquest that Louise died from cardiac failure resulting from electrocution.
” It was absolutely instantaneous,” he said.
Spilsby and District Coroner Mr Ian Mitchell Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.
The prompt action of rescuers had prevented him from holding a double inquest, he said.
He knew Lianne’s parents would join him in thanking those who had saved her life.
Mr Hough and his family had been staying at a caravan site near the Derbyshire Miners’ Holiday Centre.
He and his two daughters paddled in the sea on Sunday afternoon — when it was fine and sunny — before joining his wife and two other families at a tunnel near the DMHC.
Five children, accompanied by Mrs Janet McLaughlin, of Balderton, near Newark, set out along a breakwater to paddle in the sea — while the adults watched from the tunnel.
Mr James McLaughlin told the inquest: “There was a sudden clap of thunder. I didn’t see any lightning. My wife and all but Louise appeared to fall from the breakwater.

NO PANIC
” Mr Hough started to run down towards the other daughter. I then saw a flash of lightning hit Louise. Site was dead, but the two men (who tried to revive her) did everything they could possibly do.”
Mr Neil Gammond, of Warsop, who is a member of the National Coal Board Miners’ Rescue Team, told how he and a friend had tried to revive Louise. They had given her cardiac massage and mouth – to -mouth resuscitation.
One of the Derbyshire Miners’ Holiday Centre buildings was struck during Sunday’s storm — knocking bricks out of a wall and ” blowing” electrical fittings.
Assistant manager Mr Don Mitchell said there was no panic as holidaymakers left the building.
” We heard about the little children on the beach and were more concerned about them,” he said.
Mr Mitchell added it was one of the worst storms he had experienced.
Houses in and around Skegness were without electricity for a few hours on Sunday because of the storm.
A collection held at the Garden City Club, Winthorpe, on Tuesday evening raised £30 for the family of Louise Hough.