A sailor has been struck by lightning while racing in the Australian A Class Catamaran National Championship.

A spokeswoman for the organising club said: “We thought the storm was getting close so we finished the race immediately and the fleet was off the water. When the lightning struck the water in the boat park in the heavy rain, the sailor, who has his hand on the carbon fibre mast of his boat, received a very severe shock.”

The sailor was rushed by ambulance to hospital and is now reported to be in a stable condition.

Image: Australian A-Class association