Man shares experience after being hit by bolt of lightning outside his home
Alexandra Snow
When Thomas Fahmy stepped out his front door in New York’s Staten Island to head to the dentist, he was hit with a bolt from above.
Footage from a home security camera shows the US Republican Party political staffer suddenly drop to the ground in a fiery flash – just metres from his car.
“I didn’t even have a chance to step back, I just fell to the floor,” he said of the shock incident on August 27.
Fahmy suffered no severe injuries and remained conscious the entire time, only reporting an intense burning sensation, tingling and pain in both of his feet.
Seconds later, he gathered himself, stood up and hobbled away, knocking on the nearest door for help.
Stephanie Homan came to the front door with a young child in her arms, which Fahmy said reminded him of an image of the Madonna and child.
Homan helped him inside her home, called 911 and within minutes emergency responders arrived.
Fahmy was taken to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, in Ocean Breeze, to be examined by doctors.
He did not suffer any visible burns from the lightning strike but was monitored overnight before being released the following day.
After being discharged, he bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket and then attended church, where that day’s Bible reading was about the apocalypse, which he thought was particularly apt. The odds of winning the Mega Millions lottery jackpot are one in 300 million.
Fahmy works in US representative Nicole Malliotakis’ Staten Island office.
Malliotakis said: “We are grateful that Thomas, a member of my congressional staff, is alive and well after being struck by lightning last week.
“I thank the good Samaritan who ran to his aid and the medical staff at Staten Island University Hospital who treated him.”
Fahmy gained a new perspective on life after finding himself on the ground following the lightning strike.
He said: “In politics, you kind of forget sometimes that there’s something bigger than you. There is a power greater than you.
“It all goes down the drain once you see life literally flash in front of your eyes.”
In the US, there is roughly a one in 1.2 million chance of being struck by lightning in any given year.
While almost 90 per cent of all people struck by lightning survive, many are left with various degrees of disability, according to the US National Weather Service.
Telegraph, London
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
