Man miraculously survives direct lightning strike
A US man has miraculously survived being struck by a bolt of lightning right outside his home.
Thomas Fahmy was stepping out the front door of his house in Staten Island, in New York, on August 27 to head to a dentist appointment.
A US man was heading to a dentist appointment when a bolt of lightning struck him right outside his house. CNN
Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck his umbrella and slammed him to the pavement.
Home security camera footage captured the exact moment he collapsed in a burst of light, metres from his parked car.
“I just fell to the floor,” Fahmy said.
But despite the impact, he never lost consciousness and escaped serious injury.
Describing the moment to local media, he said his whole body went numb and tingly, leaving him with an intense burning sensation throughout his whole body.
Seconds after the strike, Fahmy managed to pull himself up and hobble to a neighbour's front door.
Home security camera footage captured him asking resident Stephanie Homan, “May I come in, please?” as she answered, holding her young child.
"Please come... are you OK? I'm calling an ambulance for you," Homan said, bringing him inside to dial 911.
Seconds after the strike, Fahmy managed to pull himself up and hobble to a neighbour’s front door. CNN
Paramedics rushed Fahmy to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze.
Doctors found no visible burns on his body, but kept him overnight for observation.
The next day, Fahmy bought a lottery ticket and went straight to church to thank God for his survival.
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