Family mourn nine-year-old boy struck by lightning in Blackpool

The family of a nine-year-old boy who died after being struck by lightning during a football coaching session have described him as their “brightest star” and “our everything”.

Jordan Banks was injured on a playing field in the Common Edge Road area of Blackpool during a thunderstorm shortly after 5pm on Tuesday.

Emergency services, including police and an air ambulance, were called to the scene to find that Jordan had suffered serious injuries. He was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Flowers, footballs and messages of condolence were laid at the site.

Jordan’s family said: “Yesterday our worlds stopped. We lost the brightest star, our beautiful boy Jordan. His laugh, that infectious smile, golden curls – he was our everything. Wise beyond his years, caring, considerate, generous and so loving. Our love is endless. Goodnight, beautiful boy.”

Social media users posted nine footballs with the hashtag #RIPLittleMan in honour of the Liverpool fan.

Scott Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, said he was “incredibly sorry to hear this tragic and heartbreaking news”. “I’m sure I speak for the whole community when I say that everybody in Blackpool will be thinking of the boy’s family and friends at this sad time,” he said.

Jordan’s football team, Clifton Rangers Junior FC, paid tribute to the “extraordinary young man” in a Facebook post. They said: “Jordan of our U9 Bees tragically passed away yesterday evening doing what he loved. Jordan was a shining light and an inspiration to everyone that he met.

“The world has truly lost an extraordinary young man, who had done so much good in his community. We cannot begin to imagine the grief of the family. Our thoughts, prayers, love and hugs go out to them all and to his teammates, friends and coaches who are devastated by the loss.”

The club said it would be working with the Football Association to “support the family and anyone else touched by this tragedy”.

Spirit of Youth Junior FC, another local club that uses the field, said in an online statement that the boy was understood to have been taking part in a private coaching session.

“The tragic incident happened on our home ground at Common Edge playing fields but it was not during a club training session. As a club, we are heartbroken and we offer our deepest condolences to the boy’s family. We are entrenched in the local community, and we will give whatever support is required to both the family and to those that were with him at the time.”

In January, Jordan ran 30 miles in memory of his uncle, Reece Begg, who took his own life in 2018, raising more than £2,300 for the Blackpool-based mental health service Counselling in the Community.

Liverpool footballer James Milner recorded a video for him after hearing of his fundraising exploits. Milner said: “Hi Jordan, how’s it going? I’ve heard that you’re doing an amazing thing in raising funds for counselling in honour of your uncle Reece … I think running a marathon is an incredible feat, and it’s difficult with people doing it with legs a lot bigger than yours, but to do 30 miles is incredible.”

Blackpool council, which owns the playing fields, said it was flying the town hall’s flag at half-mast in tribute to Jordan.

Det Supt Nick Connaughton, of Lancashire police, said: “This is a truly devastating incident and our thoughts are wholeheartedly with the family and friends of the young boy at this very sad and distressing time.”

On average, two people are killed by lightning in the UK every year.