Man killed by lightning at Kings Canyon tourist spot

A man has been killed by lightning at the popular Kings Canyon attraction in Australia’s red centre just 500 metres after starting a walk with his family.

The 35-year-old victim was hiking along the Rim Walk, near the car park, with his family of five when he was struck about 5pm on New Year’s Day.

Northern Territory Police said the man fell to the ground and died, but his body wasn’t recovered until Tuesday morning because of the bad weather. 

‘There was two storms approaching, there was some flash floods and there was surrounding lightning,’ Acting Territory Duty Superintendent Vicki Koum told the ABC on Tuesday.

‘Sadly, a 35-year-old male, he was struck by lightning and he fell to the ground and obviously we had rangers and there were other persons there that assisted and dealt with the deceased.’

Daily Mail Australia understands the man’s family are still too shocked to give details to police. 

Kings Canyon is more than 300 kilometres north-east of Uluru in the Northern Territory and more than 300 kilometres west of Alice Springs in the central Australia.

A 35-year-old man was killed during unusually wet weather in Australia’s red centre

The area remains open to tourists as an autopsy is conducted on the man. 

 ‘I dare say an autopsy will take place and an investigation as far as the determination or whether it was deceased upon impact of the lighting strike or otherwise, I can’t confirm either way,’ Duty Superintendent Koum said.

The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Lasseter area of central Australia which covers Kings Canyon.

The man was struck by lightning just 500 metres from a car park during a walk with his family (stock image)