Northam Races worker in critical condition after reported lightning strike

The man, aged 57, was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital overnight and remained in a critical condition Friday morning.

It is understood he had been working trackside at 4.30pm near the 500 metre mark when he was struck.

Race caller Darren McAullay told Radio 6PR's Oliver Peterson the storm that caused the lightning had "come from nowhere".

"We all jumped due to the noise. It was just so loud. I was looking just around the 200 metre mark," he said.

"I looked up further beyond the track and there was people waving. I looked through the... binoculars and a man was laying on the track with a sand bucket tipped over.

"I immediately saw he was in a fair bit of trouble.

"Ambulance staff hightailed it up to where the man was working... the paramedics were on the scene in about 50 seconds.

"They applied CPR and they also gave him mouth-to-mouth before the ambulance put him onto the guernsey.

"It was only a very small crowd... it's just ended on a tragic note.

"There is absolute pool of gloom over the place at the moment."

WAtoday understands punters at the track were told the man had died after he flat-lined but was able to be revived in the ambulance.

He suffered a heart-attack and, if struck by lightning, could have internal injuries.

Racing and Wagering Western Australia chief executive officer Richard Burt told ABC Radio the circumstances surrounding the man's collapse were still unclear.

"There was lightning in the area but we don't know at this stage whether or not it was lightning," he said.

"All we know is he's definitely had a heart attack and he's been getting vital medical treatment.

"The paramedics and ambulance and on-course doctor immediately went to the scene.

"The ambulance took him to the Northam Hospital and he's currently undergoing medical attention."

The remaining Race 7 at Northam has been postponed until November 22.