ANGLER Steve Barrett survived a terrifying lightning strike — on Friday the 13th.
The 54-year-old was left with a hole in his shoulder, broken ribs, severe burns and bruising when the 300million-volt bolt zapped his carbon-fibre rod, snapping it in two.
Angler Steve Barrett survived a terrifying lightning strike on Friday the 13thBNPS
A tree Steve was stood near was blown apart with splinters shattering van windows
The 300million-volt bolt zapped Steve’s carbon-fibre rod, snapping it in two
He was hurled backwards by the impact, while a tree he was stood near was blown apart with splinters shattering van windows, puncturing a dinghy and tearing a hole in a tent.
Gardener Steve, who was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to hospital, said: “I’m lucky to be alive.
“I thought I was a goner, and the worst thing is I never even caught a carp.
“I felt this heat go down my left side, I was totally paralysed like having a severe stroke.
“Then I couldn’t feel my body.
“I felt elevated, my head was in the air.
“I thought that was it.
“I passed out but woke a few minutes later in severe pain from the heat and where I had landed on my rods and broken my ribs.”
He and pals had just finished steak dinner at the Carp Zoo fishery in France’s Loire Valley when the strike happened at 6.30pm on June 13.
Steve, of Christchurch, Dorset, added: “Nine of us go to the same spot every year.
“It was muggy and humid but there wasn’t a thunderstorm or rain, it was just one strike out of the blue — bang.
“There were no other strikes that evening, it was bizarre.
“The whole thing has been horrendous.
“It’s probably put ten years on me.
“It certainly makes you take stock.”
His friends managed to get him into a car to drive him to the main gate of the fishery to wait for an ambulance.
Carp Zoo owner Tom Tebbutt, who organised medical help, said: “Everyone was in good spirits, but what happened next was unbelievably frightening.
“Luckily, Steve is back home and will make a full recovery.”
Gardener Steve was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to hospital
Tom plans to urge anglers to return to the clubhouse if there are any weather warnings in place in future.
“Never underestimate the power of Mother Nature,” he added.
“We feel we have escaped with a warning of what could happen.”
Lightning bolts typically carry 300million volts and heat the air to up to 30,000C and can strike ten miles from a thunderstorm.
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