Brisbane AFLW star Jess Wuetschner opens up on being struck by lightning

Brisbane star Jess Wuetschner concedes she is lucky to still be here after she was struck by lightning while working. Amazingly, she was unharmed and is a chance for Brisbane’s season opener.

Jess Wuetschner (left) was struck by lightning last week. Picture: Peter Wallis

Shaken Brisbane Lions AFLW star Jess Wuetschner says she is lucky to be alive after getting struck by lightning.

The 27-year-old was working at the Port of Brisbane on Sunday, January 19 and was more than 10 metres off the ground in a crib being held by a crane when lightning hit a pole she was holding.

“Just trying to do my job on the wharf and just happened to be in a storm and was holding a metal pole that attracted the lightning. I saw it go up my arms and next thing I knew I was crunched on the ground,’’ she said.

“As soon as it happened, I was like, ’shit, I just got electrocuted’. I just saw the white bolts go up my arms and up the pole as well.

“I didn’t pass out or anything like that but it was quite shocking. I can’t really remember too much from that point on.

“It was like a very short, brief pain of feeling, literally buzzed. It didn’t last very long. The shock set in really quickly.

“I was pretty excited to find an ambulance at that point in time…it felt like forever.’’

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Brisbane Lions AFLW players Jess Wuetschner and Emily Bates at The Gabba. Picture: Peter Wallis

The Tasmanian said she experienced a host of emotions in the week after the incident and praised paramedics who calmed her down before being taken to hospital where she underwent tests before being released a few hours later.

“(I’m) lucky to be alive and lucky to still be here. Also really scared I could have not been here,’’ Wuetschner said.

“I’m quite an anxious person really so that sort of kicked me in the guts. Then I felt a little bit of anger towards why was I there in the first place in the storm but at the end of the day, it did seem like it came out of nowhere.

“Now I’m just really grateful.

“It’s not something that I’d never want anyone to experience. Everyone has their things in life that shakes them to this degree, mine just happened to be being struck by lightning.

“It really did shake me. I didn’t really know what was going on or if I was going to come out on the other side any better.”

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Wuetschner did a weights session on Tuesday night and returned to training with her teammates at Yeronga last night (WED).

She said she was grateful for the support shown by the Lions while her mother also made the trip north.

“They’ve been there to support me through it and told me that I don’t have to be back here and have to come back to training until I’m ready. I can’t thank them enough. All of our fans as well, everyone that has supported me through this, it’s been really overwhelming,’’ Wuetschner said.

“I feel a lot better this week. Last week was a bit of a blur, trying to take in all the different emotions I was getting but I’m feeling a lot better this week.’’

Wuetschner is hoping to get back into her normal routine and is aiming to be passed fit to play in Brisbane’s Round 1 match against Adelaide on February 8.