A Staten Island man is back at work just days after being struck by lightning during a storm, an incident captured by a nearby home’s doorbell camera, as reported by NBC Washington.
Thomas Fahmy was walking toward his car on Staten Island Thursday while carrying an umbrella when the lightning strike occurred.
Surveillance footage shows Fahmy approaching his vehicle before a flash appears near him. He then collapses to the ground.
Fahmy said the strike sent an intense sensation through his body, leaving him experiencing significant pain and numbness, particularly in his feet.
“This very intense burning sensation. Tingling, numbness, pain, severe pain, in both my feet,” Fahmy said.
Despite the severity of the shock, Fahmy said he never lost consciousness. After falling, he was able to get back on his feet and make his way toward a nearby home to seek assistance.
Stephanie Homan heard Fahmy calling for help and went outside to assist him.
“I heard ‘help me, help me’ so I ran to my door and saw him on the ground,” Homan said.
Fahmy did not suffer visible burns or major injuries from the strike. He was nevertheless taken to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, where medical personnel monitored him overnight.
He was released from the hospital the following day.
Fahmy works in the Staten Island office of U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. Malliotakis released a statement Monday expressing relief that her staff member had survived the incident.
“We are grateful that Thomas, a member of my congressional staff, is alive and well after being struck by lightning last week. I thank the Good Samaritan who ran to his aid and the medical staff at Staten Island University Hospital who treated him.”
Fahmy, who describes himself as a man of faith, said the experience has changed his perspective and reminded him to appreciate everyday life.
“Just to appreciate life, smile and breathe fresh air once in a while and don’t let life overwhelm you,” Fahmy said.
The incident occurred during a period when several lightning-related incidents were reported around the country, including some that resulted in deaths and serious injuries.
In Florida, a father was killed by lightning while jet skiing in the waters off St. Petersburg over the weekend. In Margate, Florida, a mother and her toddler were struck by lightning while walking on a sidewalk.
An Illinois mother and her son also suffered serious burns after being struck during a camping trip to Lake Superior.
Lightning strikes are relatively uncommon for any person, but millions of lightning strikes occur across the United States each year.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 37 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the United States annually.
The agency says the odds of an individual being struck are less than one in a million, while nearly 90% of people who are struck by lightning survive.
Fahmy’s experience illustrates the unpredictable nature of lightning strikes.
Although the incident left him with significant pain and required an overnight hospital stay, he was able to return home the following day and resume his normal activities.
The doorbell camera footage also provided a record of the moment Fahmy was struck and his efforts to find help afterward.
For Fahmy, the experience has brought a renewed appreciation for life.
He said the incident reinforced the importance of taking time to enjoy everyday moments rather than allowing the pressures of life to become overwhelming.
Just days after the frightening encounter, Fahmy was back at work at Malliotakis’ Staten Island congressional office.
