A 13-year-old boy in Cypress, Texas, is recovering after being struck by lightning inside his home while playing video games on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a lightning bolt struck the family's house, with the electrical current traveling through the home's wiring and hitting the boy through a metal piece on his desk.
Vlad Skuridin told KPRC 2 News that he was playing video games when the lightning strike occurred without warning. "I was just sitting here, everything was going fine. I was playing video games, I was not expecting anything," he recalled. The strike hit him in the abdomen. "I just jumped out really fast and I started screaming," he said, adding that he initially thought he might not survive.
The family believes a nearby tree was struck, and the electricity traveled into their home. A small fire also ignited in the attic due to the electrical current. Firefighters and local police responded to the scene. The home sustained minor damage, including a hole in a wall.
Emergency medical personnel evaluated Vlad at his home and determined he did not need hospital treatment. He reported feeling fine but still a bit shocked and dizzy from the experience.
Following the event, Mark Herman of the Harris County Constable Precinct 4 issued a safety reminder for the upcoming storm season, advising residents to avoid using corded electronics and to stay away from electrical wiring and plumbing during thunderstorms, as lightning can travel through a home's electrical system.