Xanten - event ended after lightning hurts 15

[Robert Vermaat]

I just heard that the bi-annual Xanten event (Brot und Spiele) was ended after severe thundersorms hit the area (there have been reports of flooding in Germany and The Netherlands). Lightning apparently hit a tree under which people were hding for the storm, wounding 15 people.

I don't know if any re-enactors are among the wounded. But the report speaks of adults and children from germany and The Netherlands. Four of the wounded are reported to have severe burns.
The Sunday event was cancelled.

Report in German

Image:

[Lucius Rabirius]

I just returned from this event, but I dont know, if Reenactors also got wounded. Here is also one german article with photos: http://www.derwesten.de/nachrichten/200 ... etail.html

There were very many ambulance- cars, helicopters and firemen working. After the article one child was dead, but got reanimated and is now in a hospital, also the other 14 persons, which got hurted.
The event for tomorrow is canceled of course. This evening or tomorrow morning most of the groups will return home.

[M. Demetrius]

May God grant a quick recovery to the injured! Sorry to hear of this misadventure. It's of little help to remind people that standing under a tree, or next to a flagpole, or electric power pole is not a great idea when there's lightning, but it is the first thing people do: run for cover under a tree. I hope all the injuries were not too severe.

Sorry the event was cancelled, but it's perfectly understandable under the circumstances. Hope it's better and safer next time. Yikes, I wouldn't want to be wearing segmentata or hamata and be near lightning! That might be like being inside a cookpot.

[Uhrisa]

Yes, i was also at the event and hiding from the rain under the arches of the arena. We were just about a few yards away from were the lightning struck and wounded these people. It was was a tremendous flash and thunder. The lightning struck also several times in the upper part of the arena. I think worse was being prevented by the organisation because they had the arena evacuated when the lightning storm came near (in fact it was pouring so a lot of people came down by themselves to hide under the arches). It was a sad ending of a beautiful day.

[Lucius Rabirius]

The official statement is here: http://www.apx.lvr.de/ihrbesuch/veranst ... erfest.htm

Indeed the day was very beautiful and we were very buisy with all the visitors in the park until this thunderstorm, which destroyed the whole day. By the way it was very close after the big pompa to the arena, so more people could have get hurted, when the storm had risen at the time of the big pompa.

But I´m so glad noone died: in the gossip it was sure, that some people died. Just the number changed. So I was very lucky, to see in the media, that everyone survived. I hope, everyone who went to the festival had a good hometrip and is fine now.

[Titvs Statilivs Castvs]

It was - no pun intended - quite a shock. I hope the injured recover quickly, however I doubt it will be so... Lightning can reach temperatures of 30.000 °C ( = 54.000 °F)

When we (ESG, Legio X Gemina (NL) and we, Legio XI (B)) marched out of the arena, we stopped in the "gateway" where there was enough place for all to 'find cover'. I haven't got a clue about how long we stayed there, but certain is that lightning struck in the arena while we were standing only 30m away.
Some time later, the water started pouring down (the arena lays lower than the outside level). I was quite in the middle of the river that came down. The optio of ESG and me were standing on a little island while the water came left and right of us. My carbatinae were soaked.

But can you imagine what had happened if the lightning had struck later or the water started pouring down earlier...? 60 dead Romans! Glad we escaped from that. :|

[Praefectusclassis]

We were just about to depart for Xanten when we heard the news. How sad that such a great event ends this way. Hope everyone will recover soon!

[Robert Vermaat]

Pictures of more happy moments earlier in the day:

http://www.derwesten.de/nachrichten/200 ... etail.html

[Olaf]

Our gladiator tent was pitched roughly 20m away from the tree in which the lightning struck.
As the archways under the arena were pretty crowded many people tried to stay out of the pouring rain by gathering under the open tents pitched on the ally opposite the arena.
Others were gathering under the nearby trees but left their umbrellas open, which might have been the cause of the strike.

Anyway everybody was quite disciplined after the accident and it was realy a good thing that there wasnt a panic.
The helpers did react very fast and professional and the parkofficials and security did evacute the tourists as soon as the danger of further strikes was passed.

[Graham Sumner]

The optio of ESG and me were standing on a little island while the water came left and right of us.

And I know of no one better to stand next to in a crisis!

As I know a lot of people who would have been there it was quite a shock to hear the news. It seems things could have been far worse and my thoughts go out to all concerned.

Graham.

[P Sertorius Scaevola]

This was awesome indeed! I hope none of us ever get to see something as terrifying as this ever again. The atmosphere was very depressed afterwards and there was much confusiona s to what exactly happened and if there were any casualties. Rumours spread quickly that several were injured and two people had died. This was enhanced by stories of four dead and the multitude of auxiliary services in the park with sirens and lights did much to worsen things even more. It took a while before it became clear that there were no mortal casualties and 'merely' five were injured bady. The medevac helo's and ambulances got them quickly to the hospitals and we learnt that all were out of danger and stabile.
The event as such was cancelled.

A bizar twist of fate to us as re-enactors was that this horrid weather hit us right in the middle of a sacraficial ritual to the gods. They were obviously displeased...

Paul

[M. Demetrius]

his horrid weather hit us right in the middle of a sacraficial ritual to the gods. They were obviously displeased...

Well, it's only necessary for One to be offended, y'know.

[Redwald]

"Well, it's only necessary for One to be offended, y'know."

Aah, but as we all know, it has to be the right one!


Paul

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

This is unfortunate news, I hope all the victims have recovered?
Scary thought indeed, I hve often wondered about running around with a lightning conductor on top of my head....glad I'm shorter than most!!

[jvrjenivs]

Not to say all those standard bearers who have to carry an even longer lightning conductor. But indeed very sad an event has to end this way.