A person in Staten Island, New York, was on his technique to a dentist appointment final Thursday when lightning struck his foot simply steps away from his residence. The terrifying second, captured on his doorbell digicam, is now going viral on social media. In line with NBC News, Thomas Fahmy stated he was strolling alongside Todt Hill Highway close to Windsor Highway, about 15 to 25 ft from his automotive, when he was instantly struck throughout a storm.
Surveillance footage reveals Fahmy collapsing to the bottom after the strike. He stated he felt an intense shock unfold by way of his whole physique, adopted by tingling, numbness, ache and a burning sensation. “It is a very intense burning sensation.” Tingling, numbness, ache, extreme ache in each my ft,” Fahmy stated.
Regardless of the pressure of the strike, Fahmy by no means misplaced consciousness. The video reveals him getting again on his ft and strolling towards a close-by residence to hunt assist. “I heard, ‘Assist me, assist me,’ so I ran to my door and noticed him on the bottom,” neighbour Stephanie Homan stated.
Try the video right here:
Doorbell digicam captures dramatic moments when a New York man is struck by lightning pic.twitter.com/QJ4lTyiSkQ
— Attention-grabbing issues (@awkwardgoogle) September 2, 2026
Fahmy was then taken to Northwell Staten Island College Hospital, the place he was monitored in a single day earlier than being launched the next day. Remarkably, docs discovered no burns or main accidents. Fahmy stated the expertise left him deeply grateful to be alive. A person of religion, he went to church on Sunday to thank God for his survival.
The incident has additionally prompted him to mirror on life. “Simply to understand life, smile and breathe contemporary air from time to time and do not let life overwhelm you,” Fahmy stated. On Saturday, he purchased a Mega Thousands and thousands lottery ticket, jokingly including one other twist to an already extraordinary week.
Fahmy works at US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ Staten Island workplace. The congresswoman launched an announcement Monday expressing reduction that he survived the bizarre and doubtlessly deadly incident.
“We’re grateful that Thomas, a member of my congressional workers, is alive and effectively after being struck by lightning final week. I thank the Good Samaritan who ran to his assist and the medical workers at Staten Island College Hospital who handled him,” she stated.
His case comes amid a number of current studies of individuals being struck by lightning throughout the US, together with some deadly incidents. A Florida father was killed by lightning whereas jet snowboarding off St Petersburg, whereas a mom and her toddler had been struck whereas strolling on a sidewalk in Margate. In Illinois, a mom and her son suffered critical burns after being struck throughout a tenting journey close to Lake Superior.
In line with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 37 million lightning strikes hit the bottom within the US every year. Nevertheless, the percentages of a person being struck are lower than one in one million, and almost 90% of people who find themselves struck survive.
