Up to 46 people, many children, injured in lightning strikes in France, Germany

PARIS, May 28 (UPI) -- A total of 46 people, many of them children, were injured in lightning strikes in France and Germany on Saturday.

At least four children experienced life-threatening injuries in Paris after a bolt struck a tree where the young birthday party goers were hiding from a sudden rain storm, according to reports. The children, between 7- and 14-years-old, took shelter under a tree in the city's Parc Monceau Saturday afternoon.

At least one child from the Paris incident needed to be given CPR immediately after the strike, reports said. Eyewitnesses said the group was thrown several feet from they were standing when the bolt struck.

An off-duty firefighter was the first to offer first aid at the scene until help arrived, BBC said.

On the same day, lightning struck a children's soccer game in western Germany, injuring 35 people including the game's referee. Mirror reported the bolt struck just after the game's final whistle was blown, around 2 p.m. local time.

BBC reported no signs of an impending storm were visible at the time of the damaging strike in Germany. Eleven children and two parents were taken to the hospital, and three people reportedly suffered serious injuries.