KANGAR: Padi farmer Nor Lelawati Abu Bakar, 39, struggles to get over the trauma of being struck with lightning alongside her 8-year-old son, Muhamad Azizul Jaafar.yesterday (Monday evening).
The incident occurred abruptly at Kampung Permatang Kerisek, Simpang Empat, around 7pm during light rain as they walked home after picking up her 15-year-old son, who is a person with disabilities, from a neighbour's house 50 metres away.
Passing through a path between tamarind and Gonchar trees, Nor Lelawati felt like she was forcefully pushed forward as if struck by a heavy object from behind.
"I felt an intense heat, and before losing consciousness, I saw Azizul falling unconscious nearby.
"My older child tried to move and called out to me," she said at her residence.
The mother of two said her son sought help from her husband, Jaafar Saidin, 65, and several workers at the nearby seedling site.
"I remained unconscious throughout that time until I was in my husband's car heading to the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF)."
She recounted Azizul's condition, mentioning her son regained consciousness during the journey despite sustaining burns covering 25 per cent of his body.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Azizul was sedated and transferred to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star for further examination by skin specialists.
As of now, he is in stable condition, while his mother still experiences chest pain, especially when breathing.
Several eyewitnesses said they saw a white light striking the area where the victims were passing, followed by a loud bang. They immediately attended to the victims,