A staffer working for the U.S. Congress experienced a miraculous escape after being struck directly by lightning while walking on a street in Staten Island, New York.
Security camera footage captured the dramatic moment when Thomas Fahmy, a staff member in the office of Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, was hit by the lightning bolt. The video shows him walking with an umbrella moments before the strike sent him collapsing to the ground.
Fahmy described the harrowing experience to media outlets, recalling that he was approximately 15 to 20 feet from his car when the lightning hit. He remained conscious throughout the ordeal and felt the electrical current coursing through his body. "It was a very intense burning sensation, tingling, numbness, and pain. Severe pain in both feet," he explained.
After lying on the ground briefly, Fahmy began calling out for assistance. A neighbor who heard his cries contacted emergency services, and he was transported to Staten Island University Hospital. He spent the night under medical observation and was released the following day.
Medical examinations revealed no burns or serious injuries from the lightning strike.
Reflecting on his brush with death, Fahmy offered a philosophical perspective: "You have to appreciate life, smile, breathe some fresh air, and not let life knock you down."
