Hero on how he saved woman hit by lightning in Melbourne

Laura Brownlee was struck by lightning on Saturday night and died from cardiac arrest 

The heroic man who battled to save a 25-year-old woman who went into cardiac arrest after being hit by lightning is still haunted by her face.

Brandon Cleine was driving home during an electrical storm on Friday afternoon when he spotted a man lying in the middle of the road in Chirnside Park in north-east Melbourne.

Mr Cleine pulled over to find Lauren Brownlee, 25, going into cardiac arrest and her boyfriend Ben Hollow, 23, with serious burns to his legs. 

‘As I got to about here, I noticed there was a guy lying in the middle of the road and a car stopped off and a guy kinda waving his hands down saying ‘Don’t go, don’t go’,’ Mr Cleine told 7NEWS Sunday.

 

Brandon Cleine was driving home on Friday night when he spotted the couple in need of help

Brandon Cleine was driving home on Friday night when he spotted the couple in need of help

Young couple Ben Hollow and Lauren Brownlee were both struck by lighting on Friday night

Young couple Ben Hollow and Lauren Brownlee were both struck by lighting on Friday night

A Melbourne couple were hit by a bolt of lightning during an electrical storm on Saturday night

A Melbourne couple were hit by a bolt of lightning during an electrical storm on Saturday night

The heroic young man then spent the next several minutes performing CPR on Ms Brownlee, trying in vain to save her life. 

‘I was just hoping that she stayed alive… And I was just screaming at the lady on the phone like ‘Please just get emergency services here as quick as possible. These guys are in desperate need”.’

‘I just wish she would have made it, you know?’ Mr Cleine added, barely holding back tears as he spoke to Channel 7 less than 24 hours after the ordeal.

Ms Brownlee was taken to hospital just before 9pm, but she succumbed to her injuries and died later that night.

‘It’s tragic. I can still picture her lying on the ground, I can still see Ben lying on the ground. I can still see her face. I’ll never get that face out of my mind.’ 

Lauren Brownlee, an office manager with Stockdale and Leggo real estate in Croydon, was struck and killed on Friday night as severe thunderstorms battered Melbourne

Ms Brownlee's professional profile describes her as friendly and positive, who enjoyed photography, music and art

 Mr Cleine found Lauren Brownlee, 25 (pictured) going into cardiac arrest on Saturday night

Ms Brownlee (left, front) her partner Ben Hollow (left, middle row) were standing between their car and a tree in Chirnside Park, around 8.40pm, when they were both struck by lightning

Ms Brownlee (left, front) her partner Ben Hollow (left, middle row) were standing between their car and a tree in Chirnside Park, around 8.40pm, when they were both struck by lightning

Emergency services attend to the scene where the couple were struck by lightning

Emergency services attend to the tragic scene where the young couple were hit by lightning

Mr Hollow survived and was rushed to the Alfred Hospital where he immediately underwent surgery on both legs.

A spokesman for the hospital confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday evening that he is in a serious but stable condition.

As friends and family raise money for Ms Brownlee’s funeral, Mr Cleine hopes to visit Mr Hollow in his hospital bed in an effort to help both of them heal.

Firefighters and emergency crews responded to an influx of calls between 8pm and 9.30pm on Saturday night, and SES volunteers were called out to help another 32 people.

 Firefighters and emergency crews responded to an influx of calls after 8pm due to the storm

 Firefighters and emergency crews responded to an influx of calls after 8pm due to the storm

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk