By Sophie Tedmanson PUBLISHED: 23:19 EST, 14 January 2014 | UPDATED: 02:13 EST, 17 January 2014 Southern Australia is in the grip of a widespread heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40C in many areas causing hundreds of bushfires, thousands of lightning storms, and leaving players and ball boys collapsing on court at the Australian Open. One woman was hospitalised after bushfires broke out in two states, and players at the Australian Open in Melbourne have complained of “inhumane” conditions after one hallucinated that he saw Snoopy mid-match, a ball boy fainted, one player vomited, and drink bottles melted on court where the mercury tipped 42.8C yesterday.
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Extreme heat causes on-court chaos at Australian Open where one player hallucinated
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Bushfires rage in three states, damaging dozens of homes in Perth
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One woman is taken to hospital in Adelaide with burns and smoke inhalation
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Record-breaking temperatures top 47C in South Australia
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26,000 lightning strikes hit Adelaide as heat brings intense storms
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Fire service commissioner warns Friday is 'peak danger day' in Victoria
It is forecast to rise to 42 again in @placeholder today.