Tree of lightning: Moment the CN Tower was zapped in a storm that hit city with 1,000 bolts every two minutes

It was a bolt from the blue - and the incredible moment lightning struck the famous CN Tower during a spectacular thunderstorm.

When a ferocious storm battered Toronto's landmark building, photographer Richard Gottardo was on hand to capture this remarkable image.

The 28-year-old said: 'Lightning hits the area every now and then but this was a particularly strong and powerful storm. I bought a new place with a view of the city earlier this year and have been waiting for a good lighting storm ever since.

Scroll down to see footage of the storm...

Lighting up: Richard Gottardo took this spectacular photo of lightning striking the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada

'Every time I think there is a chance of a storm I head up to the roof and wait - this picture was taken from there. I was in awe of the power of it, the thunderclaps were so loud and the lightning pierced the sky. You could see everything for miles as though it was daylight.'

The CN Tower is at 1,815ft Canada's highest building and the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. And it is hit by lightning an average of 75 times each year.

But in August, during the storm captured in this photograph and also by film-maker Jon Simonassi, the city was hit by a staggering 1,000 lightning strikes every two minutes.

In 1995 the American Society of Civil Engineers declared the CN Tower one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World. It also belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers where it holds second-place ranking. 

Lightning TO from Jon Simonassi on Vimeo.