An 18-year-old man in Ottawa was sent to hospital in critical condition Friday evening after the tree he was under was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm in the region.

Paramedics and police were called to Vincent Massey Park just after 7 p.m. in response to the incident, as the tail end of the storm was passing through the Ottawa area.

Paramedics said the man and an 18-year-old woman were cycling when the storm began and had stopped under a tree to put their rain gear on when the tree and the young man were hit by lightning.

The man was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived. He was taken to hospital in critical condition.

The young woman was also taken to hospital after she said she had numbness to her arms. It is unclear if she was hit by the lightning as well.

Police and firefighters also reported downed power lines in several locations and a downed light standard on Highway 417 near Woodroffe Avenue.

Earlier Environment Canada ended tornado warnings for regions in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, after the storm system moved through the region.

But the weather agency added new warnings for the Montreal, Laval, Vaudreuil and Soulanges regions. Those tornado warnings are in effect until 9:55 p.m.

Much of the Ottawa Valley region was also under a severe thunderstorm warning before the storm moved toward central Quebec.

The national weather agency had said severe thunderstorms likely producing tornadoes were either imminent or occurring in the area. Large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall may also accompany these storms.

Environment Canada had warned residents in these areas to take precautions and seek shelter.