A man in Russia was struck by lightning while dancing recently, collapsing instantly but miraculously surviving without serious injuries. Recalling the terrifying ordeal, he said he felt like he was burning in hell as he lay unable to move, sensing that his life was slipping away.
According to a report by the UK’s “Urban News”, the 32-year-old man, Pavel Smirnov, was on holiday with his brother and friends along the Black Sea coast in Georgia. They were dancing and filming at a pier in Batumi when lightning suddenly struck him, causing him to fall to the ground. At that moment, he believed he was going to die.
He recounted seeing a bright light and feeling like everything was burning, like being in the depths of hell. He struggled to breathe, his legs and arms rendered immobile, fearing suffocation or being burned alive, feeling as though his insides and body were on fire.
Remarkably, his brother and friends remained unharmed. They immediately called an ambulance for him after he collapsed.
He later heard them say it was lightning that struck him and began to comprehend what had happened, but still felt the imminent grip of death.
“My limbs were completely numb, my legs uncontrollable. Only one arm could move normally. I felt burning pain everywhere. My intestines, legs, and entire body skin – pain was all over. Breathing was very difficult, almost impossible,” Smirnov said.
Smirnov also mentioned that his sneakers were almost burnt to pieces, his skin severely burned, and his shorts looked like they had been shot through.
Doctors stated that despite being struck by lightning, Smirnov’s injuries were not severe, and he would be able to return home after a few days of observation in the hospital. The doctors also remarked that his survival without death or serious injuries was nothing short of a “miracle”.
Some internet users joked: “Not quite sure what dance they were doing, but evidently God wasn’t pleased.”