A golfer in Ohio is recovering after being struck by lightning while filming his companions on a golf course near Cincinnati on Friday. The incident occurred at Pebble Creek Golf Course when the golfer, identified as Chris Schiavone, and his friends found their golf cart stuck in muddy conditions.
Schiavone had taken out his phone to record his friends attempting to free the vehicle when a lightning strike hit his arm, knocking him to the ground. The footage captured a flash of light immediately after the strike. Schiavone reported temporarily losing feeling throughout his body and experiencing impaired hearing following the incident. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in recovery.
The video of the strike, posted by Schiavone to social media, has garnered over two million views. He described himself as "very lucky and blessed" to be alive, acknowledging lightning as a serious hazard.
Online commenters noted that Schiavone was standing under a tree and holding an umbrella during the thunderstorm, a behavior widely criticized as dangerous. Experts emphasize that golf courses, open fields, and areas near tall objects like trees are particularly hazardous during thunderstorms. The National Weather Service advises seeking indoor shelter as soon as thunder is heard, adhering to the guideline: "When thunder roars, go indoors."