A Florida teenager is sharing a stark warning after being struck by lightning while mowing a lawn in Altamonte Springs, hoping his experience will raise awareness about the dangers of unpredictable weather. Daniel Sharkey, the teen in question, managed to survive the ordeal and recounted his harrowing moments post-strike, to both MYNEWS13 and FOX 35 Orlando.
According to Sharkey's interview, as per MYNEWS13, the incident occurred while he was attempting to cut his neighbor's lawn despite a storm brewing in the vicinity. "I know I was moving my mouth, but I don’t think I was able to say anything," said Sharkey, recalling his inability to cry for help. Describing to FOX 35 the sheer force of the lightning strike, Sharkey explained how it felt like being electrocuted, "every muscle in your body locks up." Neighbors quickly came to his aid after witnessing him "go flying in the air," as one across the street described it.
Sharkey’s close call did not result in any major bodily damage, a stroke of luck he attributes to circumstances that might have turned out drastically different. However, the lightning did singe portions of his clothing and left him very sore. "As sore as I may be, as much as my chest might hurt, I'm just lucky," Sharkey stated, as detailed by MYNEWS13, expressing a sense of relief after medical exams confirmed the absence of major injury.
While Sharkey has taken a harrowing encounter as a cue to educate and caution others, his story stands as a testament to the importance of heeding weather warnings, however subtle they may be. "Luckily I'm still here, and hopefully others can learn to look, and even if you're 99% sure and it’s a one-in-a-million chance, just go inside, you can come back to it later," Sharkey advised in his interview, as per MYNEWS13.
