A staffer for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., was struck by lightning last month in Staten Island, New York, an incident captured on doorbell camera footage.
The video shows Thomas Fahmy, a staffer for the congresswoman, being hit by lightning while carrying an umbrella during a thunderstorm. Fahmy recalled experiencing a “very intense burning sensation,” along with “tingling, numbness, pain, severe pain, in both of my feet.”
Fahmy was able to stand and walk to a nearby home to seek assistance, and an ambulance was called. He was hospitalized overnight and released the following day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the odds of being struck by lightning in the U.S. in any given year are less than one in a million. Since 2006, there have been 517 lightning-related deaths nationwide, and nearly 90% of those struck survive.
The CDC advises against carrying metal objects like umbrellas, golf clubs, or fishing poles, as metal can act as a conductor and increase the risk of a direct strike, especially when held above shoulder level. These objects can raise the chances of a direct hit when carried above shoulder level.