Deirdre O Meara A homeowner in the Birchwood Heights area of Tallaght, Dublin, Derek Neilson, has spoken about the moment when lightning struck the chimney of his house. The incident occurred on Monday during the intense thunderstorms that hit Dublin. Derek was in his sitting room fixing his child’s scooter when the lightning struck. Thankfully, he was uninjured after the ordeal. However, the lightning strike caused damage to Derek’s roof and chimney that will cost an estimated €2,000 to €3,000 to fix. His sister has set up a GoFundMe page to help him pay for the repairs.
In an interview with Dublin Live, Derek explained that he heard a “big bang and a crash” and what he thought was smoke filled the room. His neighbour from across the road immediately ran over to him, and when they looked at the roof, they saw bits of the chimney everywhere. Derek said, “People were showing up, driving by, videos all the time. Two or three of our neighbours ran over and started putting ladders up. One of the neighbours Paul and a friend of mine jumped up on the roof and the two of them secured it against water. I’d just like to send out a big thanks to the pair of them.”
Derek said he thinks he is “still in shock” after the incident. “I’m just still ticking along with it and getting the house cleaned back up,” he said. “What I thought was smoke was actually stuff from the chimney after coming into the sitting room, so I’ve cleaned that up. I got my alarm fixed today, and I got the chimney that was looking a bit dangerous taken down first thing this morning. I haven’t been sleeping properly. I had about four hours of sleep or something last night. Every little crack I heard in the house, I thought was the chimney coming down.”
The thunderstorms that hit Dublin on Monday caused widespread disruption across the city. Dublin Fire Brigade responded to over 100 calls during the storm, with many of the calls related to flash flooding. The storm also caused power outages in some parts of the city.
The GoFundMe page set up to help Derek pay for the repairs to his home has already surpassed its goal. The page was set up by Derek’s sister, and in just a few days, it has raised over €3,800. Derek expressed his gratitude to everyone who has donated to the page, saying, “It’s just amazing, the response from people. I’m just blown away by it. It’s just fantastic.”
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of lightning strikes during thunderstorms. Lightning can cause significant damage to homes and other buildings, as well as posing a serious risk to people who are caught outside during a storm. It is important to take precautions during thunderstorms, such as staying indoors and avoiding using electrical equipment.
The damage caused by the lightning strike to Derek’s home is a costly reminder of the importance of home insurance. Without insurance, homeowners would be left to cover the cost of repairs themselves. It is essential to ensure that your home insurance policy covers damage caused by natural disasters such as lightning strikes and storms.
Overall, the incident highlights the importance of being prepared for unexpected events such as thunderstorms and lightning strikes. While it is impossible to predict when these events will occur, taking precautions and having the right insurance coverage can help to mitigate the damage caused by such incidents.
