A 61-year-old man is recovering from his injuries after being struck by lightning Tuesday afternoon.

The Barry's Bay man was among a group of swimmers in the Madawaska River near Palmer Rapids when a severe thunderstorm blew in around 3 p.m.

The man took cover under a nearby tree and was truck by lightning and rendered unconscious, according to Rick Rogers, district manager with the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service, which responded to the call.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene, transported to St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry's Bay then airlifted to the Ottawa Hospital Civic campus with critical injuries.

The paramedic service is advising people that during a storm they should take cover indoors, away from windows, Mr. Rogers noted.