As much as we usually try to avoid going outside when a storm is brewing, we’re going to find that there are some times we simply can’t avoid it.
Not only does lightning not always warn us before it shoots down from the sky, but it also seems to have some awful timing and strike when we’re the least ready for it.
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But while its sudden appearance is known to have fatal consequences in some cases, three siblings recently had the incredibly good fortune to come away from their close encounter in one piece.
On July 12, Rachel, Isobel and Andrew Jobso of Maidenhead, England were cycling towards their aunt’s house in Surrey.
According to the BBC , Rachel had to stop for a bathroom break while it was raining heavily and her siblings apparently took refuge under a tree.
By the time Rachel rejoined them, they decided to take some selfies.
However, they soon learned the hard way that hanging around under a tree during a storm wasn’t a good idea as all three were suddenly struck by lightning.
And as you can see, this happened at the exact moment they took one of their photos. But while the chances of taking such a well-timed picture are astronomical, none of them were in any condition to appreciate that as they immediately found themselves lying on the ground.
As Rachel said, “I felt disjointed. My sister and I were screaming. I got burnt on my thigh and stomach and it’s left lightning-like marks behind on me and my sister. I couldn’t feel my arm.”
After passers-by helped them up, paramedics took the three siblings to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
According to the BBC, the medical team there suspected that a titanium plate in Isobel’s arm from a cycling accident last year was partially the reason why all three were struck. In any case, it certainly explained why Isobel’s arm felt so hot after the fact.
Fortunately, despite the worrying condition they were in at the start, Rachel just reported feeling slightly light-headed while her sister’s arm continued hurting after they were discharged hours later.
But while they were incredibly lucky to come away from that situation more or less unscathed, they’re not likely to forget what happened that day.
Because even if their minds somehow block it out and they lose the uncannily bright photo, these skin marks known as Lichtenberg figures that remain on Rachel and Isobel’s bodies will remain as a haunting memento.
ht: BBC
Last Updated on July 21, 2021 by Mason Joseph Zimmer
