A Melbourne woman has recounted the experience of surviving a lightning strike in 2023, an event she claims has left her with unusual, potentially supernatural, abilities.
Carly Electric, as she is known professionally, was reportedly struck on the head during a lightning storm on Christmas night on the Gold Coast. The incident resulted in keraunoparalysis, a form of temporary paralysis following a lightning strike, which left her immobile for approximately 10 to 12 hours. She spent about six months recovering a significant portion of her motor functions.
Electric stated that following the strike, she experienced several changes, including altered eye color, the need for bifocal glasses, and persistent "hotspots" and scarring on her scalp. She also described feeling "static to everything" and a heightened sense of creativity and humor. Shortly after her recovery began, she launched a podcast and started writing comedy.
Among the most notable changes, Electric claims to have developed a "built-in GPS," allowing her to visualize maps and instantly know her location and direction. She also believes she is now more susceptible to electricity and lightning strikes due to her body operating at a different frequency.
Despite the unusual side effects, Electric expressed concerns about potential long-term health consequences, noting the scarcity of research on lightning strike survivors. She has undergone heart tests due to experiencing "weird heart things" and numbness. Nevertheless, she referred to the event as "the best thing that ever happened to her," attributing her survival in part to wearing Yeezy slides, which she believes cushioned the impact.
Electric recounted going outside to film a lightning storm when she was struck. She described a bright flash, temporary blindness in one eye, and a loud noise. Upon returning inside, she experienced nausea and euphoria, feeling as if she had ingested something hallucinogenic. Her paralysis gradually worsened, affecting her speech and movement until she was completely immobile, able to only blink, by the time paramedics arrived.
She was hospitalized, where doctors were reportedly perplexed by her condition. After a period of unconsciousness, she was informed about keraunoparalysis. While she regained some mobility within 24 hours, her speech took about a week to return to normal, and she felt the effects significantly for a year.
Electric, whose childhood nickname is Carly Electric, had a long-standing fascination with lightning and had previously joked about being struck by it. She was wearing a lightning bolt necklace at the time of the incident. She mentioned that the lightning storm caused widespread power outages and damage in the area.
In addition to her personal experiences, Electric recently won two awards at the Australian Adult Industry Awards: Best Adult Comedian and Director's Choice Female Entrepreneur. She is scheduled to perform her comedy show in Melbourne in September.