Do you know to get out of the water if there's lighting around?

[MaggieFS]

I'm currently on holiday and we're having frequent thunderstorms. There's one now and most people have left the pool but one family of two adults and two 5ish year old children and still swimming and have just cheered at an almighty grumble from the Gods.

It's a private apartment block so no lifeguards. I grew up in a hot country so it's ingrained to get out of the water but it's just set me wondering if people brought up in the UK who have less chance to swim outside and less frequent thunderstorms really know this?

*us ruined

Had no idea!!

That sounds scary. I hope he settles down.
You could call the police if he doesn't.

How unsettling! But remember there is a locked door between you and him.

Thanks. Fortunately after that last round of crashing and banging doors it was quiet. DC1 was up once more during the night so we're all very tired but we're ok. Very much hoping that he doesn't have any more reason to get angry and we can try and enjoy what's left of our holiday.

As you were on the lightning discussion!

I actually assumed you'd be safer in water If you got struck by lightning it would travel through you and dissapate through the water, sort of like a shock absorber. In my defence I live nowhere near stretches of water and my physics doesn't go beyond GCSE level.
Disclaimer: I know water is a conductor of electricity, but I thought lightning always struck something solid, like a person or a tree or building. It never occurred to me that it could strike water.

I didn't know this and consider myself quite well informed about life. I grew up in London though so opportunities for outdoor swimming are very limited. I can only think of Hampstead Ponds (though I've never swam there).

I only had a half term of swimming lessons when I was 7 and never went on holiday or anywhere near water afterwards as my mother didn't like the stuff, so was never told this, as the possibility of being in water and outside wouldn't have ever cropped up.

However, she always switched the TV off (despite not having a roof or loft aerial - I think she thought a bolt of lightning would magically aim for the TV through the window if it were switched on) and wouldn't answer the phone if there was any thunder, never mind go out in it, so I suppose if it had cropped up, I'd have been dragged away. But then again, I wasn't even allowed to watch a storm through a window, either.

Thinking about it, she must have been terrified of storms, whereas I loved them. Just another reason why she thought I was a weird child she just didn't understand, I suppose.

Yes, I do due to local school having an outside pool. The one rule about everyone getting out was if there was a thunderstorm.

But: I understand the risk, but how big a risk is it actually? Has anyone ever seen a swimming pool hit?
Because lightning tends to go for high places, I thought, if it can. And a swimming pool is likely to be surrounded by much taller buildings etc.

1. I swam in an empty pool as a child in France during a thunderstorm, some adult did tell us not to. Since then I've always been aware.

1. Also seen lightning hit the ground next to trees, so know that it doesn't always go for the highest thing.

1. We had a router (in the living room) get damaged by lightening. When I spoke to BT the person said that they get a flurry of exploded routers after every storm so it's definitely a thing.

1. I'd never thought about being in a bath though... but now you mention it.

1. Oh my Goodness OP what a derail! Glad it calmed down but that sounds really scary. I reckon your DH is right and it wasn't personal. It's a horrible feeling to be shouted at though. You can spend all your time today hoping the lightening comes back for him