Three children and an adult were fighting for their lives on Saturday after they were among 11 people struck by lightning during a birthday party in a Paris park.

Another child and an adult were seriously injured, but their lives were not in danger. Five others — four children and an adult — were slightly injured.

In a second freak incident – occurring at around the same time – 35 people were injured by a lightning bolt during a football match in Germany. The lightning struck at the end of a children’s match in the town of Hoppstaedten.

The referee, who was hit directly, was rushed to hospital by helicopter. Two other adults also suffered serious injuries. Thirty children aged between nine and 11 were mildly injured and taken to hospital for tests, along with two more adults.

    

The children in Paris were hit by lightning after seeking shelter under a tree from a sudden thunderstorm. The victims were rushed to hospital after horrified bystanders called the emergency services. The children, aged between seven and 14, were celebrating a birthday in the Parc Monceau, located in the wealthy 8th arrondissement.

Vincent Baladi, a local official, told iTELE television: “They have burns. The lightning struck suddenly. We hope they will pull through.”

The situation could have been even worse had it not been for the presence of an off-duty fireman, who happened to be at the scene and was able to give first aid, including a child whose heart had stopped.

Eric Moulin, a fire brigade spokesman, said the fireman “helped the most seriously injured during the first few minutes, before the emergency services arrived.” He added: “Without his actions, it would have been much worse.”

The off-duty fireman, Pascal Gremillet, said: “I saw them on the ground beside a tree. There was a child in cardiac arrest so I gave first aid and heart massage.” Mr Gremillet, a local resident, directed the emergency services to the exact spot.

Nearly 80 firemen were sent to the park, which is popular with families. Police blocked off a section of a nearby road while the victims were taken to two hospitals. Most are being treated at the Necker children’s hospital. Psychologists were counselling parents at the hospital.

Grégoire Gauger, a deputy mayor of the 8th arrondissement, witnessed the tragedy. “It started raining buckets and everyone headed for shelter and then lightning struck. We all jumped. I was only 300 metres away. Unfortunately it was a group of children form the area who were hit during a birthday tea.”