Direct hit

[mague]

2006 a german theater actor got hit by lightning. Estimation is that the lightning was 1-2 million volt. He got hit directly into the head and only survived due to the metallic plates on his bicycle shoes and the fact that he was near a lake with a lifeguard camp.

He wrote all down in his diary while in hospital and later on wrote a play about it. Title of the play is Direct Hit.

It is about hallucinations, lack of coordination system and reprogramming the lost mind.

Unfortunately there is no book I have read some critics about the play. It seems this experience wasnt sad or drama, but rather funny, like a trip.

I couldnt find any good informations about people who survived. Legend has it, that Martin Luther dropped his juristic studies and became a monk after he witnessed a lightning hit very close. Close enough that the blast wave was knocking him off.

Does anyone have soem links or books about 1st hand human experience ?

[flyingcloud]

Hi Mague,

I've experienced two indirect hits, led me to this kind of place.

I live in a forest on top of a hill, surrounded by metal livestock fencing and quartz rock is everywhere.

First time we just moved in, it was a drought for months, really bad for a while. We had downpoors and it was wet everywhere, so my wife and I decided to burn some wood, construction debris, leftover from previous owners moving and an old fake fireplace that had molded from being outside. We had a huge blaze going and the rain prevented the fire from spreading, to some work to get it going but most of the fuel was dry so it took off like crazy. My wife, and our two dogs were out in the down poor, so much rain it couldn't run-off fast enough. There was half an inch to an inch of water covering the ground. From out of no where the air glowed, and simultaneously there was a boom that not only sounded loud but it pounded our bodies, the electricity came through our bodies while this pounding sound was happening to the point where all the sensations were inseperable.

I had back pain from moving heavy objects to the point where I couldn't walk while standing up stright. This cured that on the spot. I litterally jumped without moving a muscle. It was incredible, the power was so intense. I will never forget the smell, the sizzle in the air, The dogs were terrified as we ran to the basement they had their tails between their legs and they were all fluffy as their fur was now stnding all on end. We all made it to the basement doors and ducked inside and waited out the storm. I knew then that my initial feeling of something special about this place was for certain.

We had many lightning storms in the interim, power surges fried almost all of my electronics, that instance alone, blew out my printer, my steroe, my sound card, and my washing machine just from that one strike. Subsequently I had gone through several stereos, another computer, two tvs, two microwaves and a toaster and probably just about every other electronic component and appliance in the house over the next four years. We have since upgraded our electric service with two surge protectors, a lightning arrestor and added two additional ground rods.

Just about a year before the upgrade we were in bed and a storm had awakened us that night. Violent thunder so severe it would shake the house like an earth quake when all of a sudden again the air lit up, it was ubiquitous, we were engulfed in the light. And the boom which sounded like it blew a hole in the wall and we had a metal frame bed. I could feel the electricity go by my feet at the foot of the bed just like static on a balloon raising your hair but more intense it was licking the skin on the bottom of my feet I swear. We lost electric service but had this smell in our house, we got a flashlight and found that I must have struck our electric dog fence and traveled into the transformer on the wall. We had black soot marke that came out of the electrical outlet. The 12VDC tranformer was blown off the wall in pieces of plasteic that flew from out kithcen over 16 feet into our dining room. Pieces of plastic were everywhere, the only thing remaining was the metal prongs of the plug still in the outlet with the wires dangling in a coils down the wall. Again the smell is unique. I could taste it in the air. Really intense.

I haven't taken a direct hit, but I can almost catch it how often it gets close to us. It commands respect. I will not admit to complete fear but be darn sure if it thunders I will be taking defensive actions.

[Grey Cloud]

Hi Flyingcloud,
Great story.
I once stood in the eye of Typhoon Hope in Hong Kong (1980) and although there was no lightning I remember the smell and the feel of the sheer raw power of Nature. I remember thinking at the time that if this thing blinks I'm gone. Awesome experience, or more properly, an experience of the awesome. It always makes me smile when I read about science controlling nature or harnessing the power of nature etc.

Where abouts is Honey Brook?

[junglelord]

Cool stories Flying Cloud and Grey Cloud.

I guess I need to go stand outside on a mountain top.


My good friend, a chiropractor, was struck by lightning, while riding his bicycle.
He had three months where he was a genius, his need for sleep almost non existant.
Like the movie with John Travolta I believe.

After three months he said this all seemed to fade and he became "normal" again.
But for three months, his clarity was like at no other time in his life.
His batteries, both mental and physical were topped off, as he put it.

[flyingcloud]

Hi Flyingcloud,

Where abouts is Honey Brook?

75.872 x 40.054
About an hour west of Philadelphia PA
Independence Day and all