Horrifying moment British boy, 8, struck by lightning while swimming on Australia beach sending him into cardiac arrest

THIS is the horrifying moment a Brit boy was struck by lightning moments after strolling into the sea with his family.

The eight-year-old was swimming at a beach in Australia on Thursday when he was suddenly hit by the bolt.

He was visiting Barrack Point in Shellharbour with his parents and younger brother when the tragedy unfolded.

Video footage captured the moment the brood headed into the water at around 5.30pm, as the youngsters splashed around.

A strike of lightning then bursts through the sky, knocking the eight-year-old unconscious and seeing him crumple beneath the surface.

It is understood the boy is English and had arrived in Australia just a week ago with his family, the reports.

He was said to have been dragged out of the water by lifeguards and was not breathing.

An off-duty nurse and paramedics administered CPR before rushing him to The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

They were able to resuscitate the boy after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

The child reportedly suffered from horrific burns on his chest and remains in a critical but stable condition. 

Witnesses said the "massive" lightning bolt struck him before his parents raced over and cradled their unconscious son.

Bystander Simon Young told : "It was just like a shock out of nowhere and at the time I looked out to the inlet and everyone was unaware of what had occurred.

"A young child just fell to the ground in the water and his family and siblings ran to his aid to grab him as fast as possible."

Intensive care paramedic Terry Morrow paid tribute to the lifeguards who had pulled the boy from the ocean.

He said: "The actions of those lifesavers played a crucial role in the boy's resuscitation.

"The child also had burns across his chest which were treated on scene by paramedics and the critical care medical team who arrived via the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter.

"While this is a rare and unfortunate incident, it is a reminder that when there are electrical storms in the area you should avoid being in bodies of water and that indoors is the safest place to be."

Nearly one million Aussies headed to beaches yesterday to commemorate Australia Day.

But the celebrations were blighted by a string of severe thunderstorm cells across parts of New South Wales.

Other bad weather also hit the Greater Sydney area including parts of Western Sydney and the Northern Beaches.

Another young boy was struck by lightning just 400m away from the eight-year-old at Warilla Beach on Thursday.

The child was hit while swimming in the water just ten minutes before the Brit boy.

He is reported to have suffered an immediate cardiac arrest however was in a critical but stable condition in hospital.