A Twitch streamer was hit by lightning while showing a video of himself playing video games indoors.North Carolina home.
Christian Howard, who goes by the online name Chrispymate, was struck by a lightning bolt during a storm in southern Wake County on July 19.
He was broadcasting live when he experienced a strong pressure combined with an electric shock in his ears, as he had earphones partially constructed from metal.
Bro, I just got struck by lightning," said Howard, 27, during the stream. "I had my earbuds in. A big bolt of lightning hit. I felt the electricity go through my ears.
The shock delivered a 'small jolt' to his body and caused his vision to briefly turn 'white,' Howard said.WRAL News.
He ended the stream a short time after the shock and IRushed to check on his cats following the event to confirm they had not been affected.
Howard, whose followers were worried after seeing him receive a shock during a live broadcast, remained unharmed in the incident.
The probability of being hit by lightning is 1 in 15,300, however, officials point out that some areas of the US, particularly states along the Gulf Coast, are centers for bolts.
Howard likened the event to experiencing loud noises from the front row of a rock concert.
"It was like being in the front row and the drummer delivered a solid thwack, with all the bass hitting you...that went straight into my ears," he said to the news outlet.
Meanwhile, if you were to take a gum strip joke toy and simply pull it, you experience that small shock. I felt both of those reactions. My vision turned white, and then I rushed off.
According to the National Institutes of Health, typical side effects of being struck by lightning can involve losing consciousness, experiencing confusion, and suffering from memory loss.
Fortunately, Howard did not experience any symptoms after the event, although he stated that he felt as if he had 'super strength' afterward.
"I haven't started a full sprint yet," he said.Fox WeatherHowever, I gained super strength the following day. I had the most effective gym session I've ever experienced.
Howard described the entire experience as quite 'intense' and mentioned that he intends to implement additional measures in preparation for upcoming storms.
Even though the majority of lightning strikes take place when someone is outdoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that strikes can also happen inside.
Lightning, which is an electrical discharge, can move through electrical systems, radios, televisions, and any metal wires or bars found in concrete walls or floors, according to the CDC.
Professionals recommend that individuals refrain from using any equipment plugged into an electrical source, such as computers, notebooks, gaming consoles, or household appliances, when thunderstorms occur.
According to data released by the University of Wisconsin-Madison last year, Americans face 36.8 million ground strikes each year, with Florida experiencing the highest number.
The region of Miami-Fort Lauderdale experienced more than 120,000 lightning strikes in 2023.
Weather experts also discovered that Louisiana experienced the greatest amount of dangerous 'cloud-to-ground' lightning strikes, while 'Tornado Alley' also faces its own share of electrical discharges.
A study revealed that on average, 28 individuals in the United States lost their lives due to lightning strikes each year from 2006 to 2023.
As per the National Lightning Safety Council, at least 12 individuals have already lost their lives due to lightning strikes in 2025.
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