WOW! Lightning DOES strike more than once!
It strikes at least 3 times as far as I know!
I went to the Boundary Waters last Sunday for a four day trip. We planned our trip on Sunday, and left early Monday morning. Right around what I can only guess was about 4:00, we started to hear thunder, and noticed dark and ominous clouds off in the distance. We got in to the next campsite and hurried to get the tents up and the gear under tarps. Just as we got the tents up the rain hit, so we went up a path further in to the woods as to avoid the lightning. The storm grew worse, heavy rain (which was warm, and really felt good), and more lightning and thunder. All of us were in a line on a path, I was on the end, the other adult leader and the kids were to my right, and the canoe guide was standing across the path from me. All of the sudden BANG BANG BANG and I was on the ground 3 feet away, facing the opposite direction. We had a near strike of lightning, and I got nailed. The guy next to me was dropped to his knees, and the kids up the path all felt the strikes to various degrees (getting less as they were further away from me).
I am extremely fortunate that it didn't strike me directly, but instead hit the ground a few feet away from me.
I was evacuated out the next morning, and at the hospital it was determined that the strike affected my heart (although no permanent damage thankfully), and my inner ear (I'm still fighting the effects - I'm a little wobble-y on my feet). Anti motion sickness drugs seem to help, and the doctor at the hospital seemed to think that it will settle down in the next week or two.
All I remember from the hit was the feeling of electricity as my body jerked, and the metallic taste in my mouth. I don't remember being thrown or hitting the ground. I have little red dots all over my legs, I'm bruised, and a little scraped up.
It was the wildest, weirdest, coolest, and scariest experience I have ever had. And I don't care to ever experience it again.
I am so lucky. Even as I wobble around the house, I feel so fortunate to have not been directly hit.
I went to the Boundary Waters last Sunday for a four day trip. We planned our trip on Sunday, and left early Monday morning. Right around what I can only guess was about 4:00, we started to hear thunder, and noticed dark and ominous clouds off in the distance. We got in to the next campsite and hurried to get the tents up and the gear under tarps. Just as we got the tents up the rain hit, so we went up a path further in to the woods as to avoid the lightning. The storm grew worse, heavy rain (which was warm, and really felt good), and more lightning and thunder. All of us were in a line on a path, I was on the end, the other adult leader and the kids were to my right, and the canoe guide was standing across the path from me. All of the sudden BANG BANG BANG and I was on the ground 3 feet away, facing the opposite direction. We had a near strike of lightning, and I got nailed. The guy next to me was dropped to his knees, and the kids up the path all felt the strikes to various degrees (getting less as they were further away from me).
I am extremely fortunate that it didn't strike me directly, but instead hit the ground a few feet away from me.
I was evacuated out the next morning, and at the hospital it was determined that the strike affected my heart (although no permanent damage thankfully), and my inner ear (I'm still fighting the effects - I'm a little wobble-y on my feet). Anti motion sickness drugs seem to help, and the doctor at the hospital seemed to think that it will settle down in the next week or two.
All I remember from the hit was the feeling of electricity as my body jerked, and the metallic taste in my mouth. I don't remember being thrown or hitting the ground. I have little red dots all over my legs, I'm bruised, and a little scraped up.
It was the wildest, weirdest, coolest, and scariest experience I have ever had. And I don't care to ever experience it again.
I am so lucky. Even as I wobble around the house, I feel so fortunate to have not been directly hit.