Sisters died after lightning strike: –

On Thursday at 12.00, sisters Benedicte (18) and Victoria Myrset (12) from Ris Church in Oslo will be buried.

The girls, who are both from Oslo, perished in a tragic accident when they were hit by a lightning strike on the mountain Melshornet in Hareid municipality on Sunnmøre in early July.

Parish priest Jan-Erik Heffermehl, who together with another chaplain will hold the funeral for the sisters, says that he has been in contact with the family since the day of the accident.

– Of course they are having a hard time. They have lost two dear sisters and daughters, and they feel a huge grief that comes with the loss. It is heavy, but they have also received a lot of good support from neighbors, friends and not least from family, Heffermehl tells Dagbladet.

He adds that he hopes the ceremony can be a good way to say goodbye to the girls.

Met on a mountain hike

It was Sunday, July 4, that Benedicte and Victoria went on a mountain hike with their sister. At the top of the mountain, all three were struck by lightning.

Two of them died. The third sister was transported to Haukeland Hospital with serious injuries.

The next day she was discharged from the hospital. She must have been well, the conditions taken into account, according to the police.

-Trying to pay attention

During the funeral, several memorial speeches have been arranged from family and friends, and the family will put roses on the coffins. Songs have also been written for the girls that will be performed during the ceremony.

According to Heffermehl, the family wanted it to be a close funeral, and they have been very involved in the program.

Due to infection control, there is unfortunately not room for everyone who wants to come to say a final goodbye, but the parish priest says that they have still tried to pay attention to them.

– There were two girls who had a large network. They had both a large network in the sports community in Heming, and at school. We have tried to pay attention as best we can, and of course places are reserved for friends and classmates, says Heffermehl.

– A terrible and tragic accident

He further states that a meeting has been arranged for them after the funeral, so that they can process the grief together.

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– Feels missed

On July 5, the day after the accident, Ris Church opened for that friends and acquaintances could meet to light candles, cry and be quiet.

The parish priest says that since the accident they have been in contact with several of the young people in the local community, and that many of them do not fully understand what has happened.

Deaths in lightning strikes: – Strong reactions

– It is very difficult for them to take it upon themselves, and it is difficult to find an explanation for what happened. There are many who feel that this is extra painful. The local environment here in Holmenkollen is relatively small, and it is noticeable that there are two people missing, he says.

Heffermehl says that youth leaders from the congregation and the municipality’s crisis team will be present during the funeral, and that they will also be available for further follow-up.

He himself thought the accident was a tragedy, and he describes it as pointless for two such young sisters to die.

– It is completely absurd, and I miss them. It feels pointless, but at the same time it is my job to make sure that it is a meaningful ceremony, where everyone can say a final goodbye. I hope we can convey a hope, a hope that life still has more to give. A life where we can take it further and make room for some of what Benedicte and Victoria gave to so many, says the parish priest.

Fear he filmed the lightning strike: – Terribly tragic

– Completely crushed

Dagbladet has previously been in contact with the principal at Ullern upper secondary school, Torill Røeggen, where Benedicte was a student.

– Very many students are completely crushed, says principal Røeggen to Dagbladet.

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She thinks it makes it more difficult for the tragedy to happen during the holidays and says that a memorial service will be arranged at the school when the summer holidays are over.

– What is nice is that the students are with their families, and have someone around them, says Røeggen.

The sports team Heming, where the girls were active, has posted the following message about the tragedy on their website:

– Not the way life should be

“It is with sadness that we have received word that a Heming family has been affected by the tragic accident at Melshornet in which two young women died. All three sisters have previously been active in several of Heming’s sports. Our thoughts and sympathy go to the bereaved and we hope for a speedy recovery for the sister who is in the hospital “, it says.

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