Local Man Survives Lightning Hit Caused By Cellphone Use

March 25, 2010 - PRLog -- The incident happened on the 14th of March when 4 men went out to catch lightning strikes on video. The sotorm had already started to move away when one lightning bolt hit the car and allegedly bounced off to Rob (28) who was unfortunately standing too close to it while talking on the phone. The young local got away with a shock and a strange-looking  burnmark on his cheek. The burn was left by the phone which heated up due to the immense powersurge.
There has been several studies and experiments to find out weather mobile phones attract lightning but there has been yet no conclusive evidence to support either side of the discussion. The video was uploaded on Youtube two days after the event however supports the theory that it is infact a bad idea to use a phone during a lightning storm.

"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lightning-strike injuries related to mobile phones," three British doctors write in the June 24 issue of the British Medical Journal.
The scary fact is that lightning is the second-leading weather-related source of fatalities in the United States, according to the National Lightning Safety Institute. National Weather Service data notes that 400 people are struck and approximately 67 are killed each year by lightning -- more deaths than caused by hurricanes or tornadoes. Only floods are more deadly.

To see the footage of the incident search: "Man hit by lightning" on Youtube or click the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fxkdGgx3s