They say your odds of being struck by lightning are about 1 in 12,000. Your odds of being struck by lightning twice in your lifetime are 1 in 9 million, which is a higher chance than winning the Powerball. We’re not sure if these guys should go buy a lottery ticket or kiss the ground and thank the heavens they are still alive. Either way, this video is absolutely terrifying.
The incident occurred while two men were standing in a boat shed, filming a thunderstorm around Sydney’s Oyster Bay on Saturday, January 30. “Dude, don’t go outside,” the filmer, Nick, said to his friend Daniel. Just before Daniel could answer back, an extremely loud, bright bolt of lightning struck the metal dock, inches away from severely injuring if not killing the men.
One estimate shows that 24,000 people are killed by lightning strikes around the world each year and about 240,000 are injured. Here are a few things you can do to avoid being a statistic, courtesy of Discovery:
1. If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone trips and outdoor activities.
2. When you hear thunder, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter. If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be hit by lightning.
3. You can be struck by lightning in a car, but you’re safer inside a vehicle than outside. If you’re in a car, keep the windows closed. Avoid open-topped vehicles like convertibles and golf carts. The steel frame of a car offers better protection if you’re not touching metal. Rubber shoes and tires don’t offer protection from strikes.
4. Avoid shelter under an isolated tree.
5. Stay away from concrete floors or walls. They often contain metal wires or bars, which can conduct electricity from a lightning strike.
6. Don’t use a corded telephone, because it can conduct electricity as well. If you need to call someone, use a wireless handset or a cell phone.
7. Lightning can travel through plumbing, so stay away from sinks and faucets.
8. Avoid ponds, pools, lakes and other bodies of water.
Food for thought: In 2000, there were just 79 shark attacks reported worldwide, 11 of them fatal.
