What does a lightning strike feel like? 'Like a horse hit you in the back of the head'

Ironic, isn't it?

The Sunshine State is the lightning capitol of the United States. Florida sees more strikes per square mile than anywhere in the country, according 2021 data from Vaisala, the company that owns the National Lightning Data Network. Only 10 percent of lightning strikes are fatal, according to the NWS Storm Data, which leaves 90 percent of lightning strike victims with various degrees of injuries, disabilities and stories to tell. Here are some of them:

What happens if you are struck by lightning?

"It felt like someone punched me all the way down my spine," said Michael Thomas, who was 28 when he was struck while lifeguarding a community pool in Delaware in 2018. He was knocked to the ground but remained conscious. "The next thing I knew my hair was standing up and I could feel it go from the top of my head and down my spine to my butt."

He also reported having the taste of copper in his mouth for a few hours after the incident. Thomas was not struck directly but by a side flash or indirect strike. Also known as arcing, a side flash can spread out as much as 60 feet after initially striking the ground, according to the NWS.

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Lightning never strikes twice

That's a myth.

Roy C. Sullivan's story is proof of that. The retired park ranger was struck by lightning seven times from 1942 through 1977, earning a dubious Guinness Book of World Records title. Nicknamed the 'lightning conductor of Virginia' and 'the spark ranger,' Sullivan's strikes resulted in a scar seared down his right leg and upper body; his big toenail was blown off; his hair was burned in three separate strikes and he lost his hearing.

Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it's a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building is hit an average of 23 times a year, according to the National Weather Service.

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What does it feel like to be struck by lightning?

"It felt just like somebody came up with a board and hit me on top of the head and knocked me down,” said former Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell, who was struck by lightning and knocked unconscious in the ninth inning of a 1919 game. Caldwell was revived, and legend has it he went on to finish the game. He sustained burns on his chest.

Lightning strikes

Anthony Fasciglione, 28, was struck while boating on the fourth of July. Experts believe the strike actually hit the water nearby but Fasciglione believes he was struck directly. “It hit me, alright. It felt like a horse hit you in the back of the head, like a mule kick,” he said. “It was almost like getting the wind knocked out of you by a Mack truck.”

Immediately afterward, Fasciglione said he felt energized, his entire body tight, ears ringing and then went numb. He suffered no major injuries.

Can you survive being struck by lightning?

You can and 90 percent of victims do but some, like Dave, a survivor listed only by his first name on the National Weather services' list of survivor stories, endure a lifetime of debilitating injuries. Two years after being struck by lightning while working on a dock on the east coast of Florida, Dave still suffered from chronic pain, heart palpitations, headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, memory problems, inability to concentrate, and a loud ringing in his ears.

"One minute I was walking along fine and the next I wasn't sure which way was up or down and I seemed to be spinning. I also recall what seemed to be a period of time when all I could see was a white or grey color. It seemed to me as though I was almost flying. Then I saw a bright flash at which point I suspect I landed on the dock. I could not move at all but my eyes were open and my head was tilted at an angle. I could not feel anything. I could see blood dripping down across my eyes but could not close them."

Like other survivors, Dave is certain he can now "feel" lightning before it strikes.

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Lightning facts

• From 2011 to 2020, 49 lightning fatalities happened in Florida, the most in any state, according to data from NWS. The second state with most lightning deaths is Texas with 22 during the same time period.

• A typical lightning flash is about 300 million Volts and about 30,000 Amps. In comparison, household current is 120 Volts and 15 Amps, according to the NWS.

• Many victims suffer cardiac arrest, brain and nerve injuries. Survivors report long term affects such as personality changes, forgetfulness, balance problems, ringing in the ears, headaches, trouble concentrating and slower reaction times.

• Not all strikes are direct hits, but most do leave outward marks, whether burns or strange spidery bruises, known as Lichtenberg figures, which trace the path of electricity that forced blood cells out of capillaries.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Lightning strike victims tell their survivor stories