Struck By Lightning

In Memory of

Helen

Beloved Wife of

Albert Donald Humphris

Who Was Killed By Lightning

on 30th May 1949

and

In Loving Memory of

Don

Who Died 11th October 1982

Much Loved Husband of

Joan Franklin Humphris

Requiescat in Pace

I think it seems like such a tragic accident, that after surviving the Second World War, Mrs Helen Humphris was killed by lightning. 

About 24,000 people are killed around the world every year by lightning and another 240,000 are injured. In the UK between 30 and 60 people are typically struck by lightning every year. 

From 1852 to 1859 there was an annual average of 19 lightning fatalities. The figure dropped to 12 deaths from 1900 to 1949, then five a year from 1950 to 1999. 

Since then it has fallen to about three per year, due to fewer people working outdoors and better awareness of the risks. 

In the UK you are 600 times more likely to die in a road accident than from lightning strike, twice as likely to die froma Bee sting or a falling tree and 130 times more likely to drown.