KUALA TERENGGANU: An outing to lay a trap to catch eels ended in the death of one youth and serious injuries to three of his cousins when lightning struck a barn during a thunderstorm in Kampung Pak Katak, Batu Enam.
Police said Form Three student Mohd Zamaqusyairi Ismail, 15, died on the spot after suffering severe burns on his chest in the incident at the barn housing goats 4.10pm.
The deceased's three cousins Mohd Syawal Zakaria, 14, suffered serious burns to his leg, Khairi Fatullah Zaid, 20, was hurt on his head and with partial loss of eye-sight, while Samsul Mohd Nor, 32, was lucky to escape with minor burns.
According to Zamaqusyairi's mother Azizah Daud, 38, she had accompanied her husband and three children to her in-law's house nearby to attend a 'cukur jambul' (trimming a new-born's hair) ceremony.
She said during the thunderstorm, one of her nephews raised the alarm of the lightning strike on four teenagers at her barn.
"I immediately rushed back and was shocked to learn of Zamaqusyairi's death. Zamaqusyairi had gone to the rear of the barn with his three cousins to make traps to catch eels at a nearby lake," she said.
Azizah added that the tragedy was most unfortunate, especially during an auspicious occasion like Aidil Adha where her family was celebrating the Hari Raya Haji with relatives.