CYPRESS, Texas (KTRK) – A 13-year-old boy playing video games was shocked in the stomach when lightning struck his Texas home.
Vlad Skuridin, 13, was playing video games on his computer inside his Cypress home as storms roared outside Tuesday. When lightning struck the home, electrical currents traveled through the wiring and shocked the teenager, according to Harris County Constable Precinct 4 officials.
“Super gigantic boom. I got super scared. I jumped up. I also had a shock on my stomach, so I just started screaming. Then, my dad called 911,” Vlad said.
Vlad says he suddenly felt tightness in his chest, and his dad told him to lie down as they called for help. The teen says he’s now OK but surprised that it happened at all.
“I did know that it could happen, but I didn’t really think it could happen to me, personally,” Vlad said. “It’s like one in a million or something.”
Edgar Bering, a University of Houston physics and electrical engineering professor, says lightning will flow through electrical systems.
“Lightning will go into the ground through that. However, while it’s doing that, anything that’s connected to the electric system can have high voltage and be a source of high current. So, during a thunderstorm, it’s OK to watch television, but you probably shouldn’t be touching the television,” Bering said.
Vlad’s parents say their attic caught on fire after the lightning strike, as their gas and water lines were hit. The inside of their wall was also damaged in the surge. Insurance representatives who inspected the home said there were two lightning strikes: one to the roof and another to a tree outside.
“The safest thing might be to sit in the middle of the room and read a book. The electrical things are dangerous,” Bering said.
As for Vlad, he says he feels grateful to be alive and that his family wasn’t hurt.
“You can’t take anything for granted,” he said.
