(Video) Hailstorm sends Siberian beachgoers fleeing in terror
Summer holiday makers in Siberia were forced to flee a river beach in terror when they were pelted by projectiles the size of golf balls during a freak hailstorm on Saturday.
While Siberia is known for its chilly climate, icy weather is not common during the considerably warmer summer season.
According to reports, temperatures on the day of the incident were as hot as 37 deg C as beachgoers flocked to the popular sand bank along the Ob River near Novosibirsk, Siberia's largest city.
However, a sudden spell of heavy wind sent hail stones plummeting onto the beach, forcing swimmers and sunbathers to run for cover.
One sunbather even used a mattress to try and shield himself from the relentless barrage.
According to the Siberian Times, one sunbather said it felt "like being hit by raining bullets from the sky" while one woman said that her husband's exposed back was "bruising all over" while trying to protect their daughter.
Despite the frightening conditions, no one was seriously injured by the storm.
Sources: Mirror Online, YouTube, Siberian Times
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