A 13-year-old boy in Cypress, Texas, was thrown backward from his desk while playing a computer game after a lightning strike hit his home and traveled through the house's wiring. Vlad Skuridin told KPRC 2 News that he was unaware of the impending danger when a bolt of lightning struck the residence.
"I was just sitting here, everything was going fine. I was playing games, I was not expecting anything and there is a metal part right here and my skin was touching it, so I got shocked," Skuridin recounted. His family believes the lightning first struck a nearby tree before entering their home and traveling through his desk.
First responders arrived at the scene and evaluated the teen, who did not require hospitalization for his injuries. Officials confirmed that the lightning strike also ignited a small fire in the attic.
Photos from the incident revealed a significant hole in a wall, with debris scattered around the area, indicating the force of the strike and subsequent fire.
The incident occurred during a period of severe weather in Texas on Tuesday, which included heavy rainfall, strong winds, and dangerous lightning. Harris County Constable Precinct 4 issued a statement on Facebook urging residents to take precautions during thunderstorms, advising them to avoid using corded electronics and to stay away from electrical wiring and plumbing, as lightning can travel through a home's electrical system.
On average, the National Weather Service reports that lightning causes approximately 93 deaths and 300 injuries annually in the United States. In Texas specifically, 34 people have died from lightning strikes in the past nine years.