Pictured: The cow that was zapped by lightening - and survived

Daily Mail ^ | 05th February 2009 | Cher Thornhill

[Daffynition]

It has certainly been flame grilled but this extraordinary cow is still standing.

The poor creature was struck by lightening and left with blistering burns. You would expect it to have been cooked alive.

But the cow miraculously survived, apparently unperturbed by the ordeal, and is already back roaming the meadows.

[Daffynition]

Professor of Physical Geography, Jon Nott of James Cook University, said the event was rare but entirely feasible.

He said: 'Cows are susceptible to lightning strikes because both sets of legs are on the ground.

'But, more often than not, they die from it.'

He added: 'The electricity from a lightning strike would enter the front set of legs and exit out the back legs so, based on the picture, it is possible it happened.

'While I can't explain the knee wounds, the ankle wounds would be consistent with those of lightning.'

The cow is believed to have been struck by the bolt in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia, last month.

But if it wasn't for its horrific wounds, you could hardly tell the animal had suffered.

Perhaps it has drawn comfort from the old wive's tale. After all, we are all told that lightning never strikes in the same place twice.

[RichInOC]

I shall call it “ZOT”.

[Thrownatbirth]

It looks like he needs a shot of morphine and a little A-1.

[KevinB]

Holy cow!

[GRRRRR]

Rare! Moooooo

[chemicalman]

More rare than medium rare.

[GnL]

That’s going to leave a mark!

[Cincinatus]

Beef — it’s what’s for dinner.

[xcamel]

“Professor of Physical Geography” - real lightning expert there, Mr Dundee...

[reasonisfaith]

It’s a sign.

Clearly the burn mark is an upside down hockey stick graph—the cow must be telling us the global warming hoax is destined to be undone.

[DieHard the Hunter]

I would have thought with injuries like that it would have been humane to euthanize this poor beast.

[Reeses]

The herd animal got zotted for dropping cow pies in the Free Republic section of the farm.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

It must be just a surface burn. The millions of volts in a lightning bolt could have just as easily done her up “Pittsburgh style”.

[NonLinear]

He said: 'Cows are susceptible to lightning strikes because both sets of legs are on the ground.

Therefore, humans are not susceptible to lightning strikes because only one set of legs are on the ground.

[CPOSharky]

After all, we are all told that lightning never strikes in the same place twice.

Yeah, right. Just like a bunch of other pronouncements in this article.

[Le Chien Rouge]

Cows are probably used to being zapped.....they've been around forever

[giotto]

I’m sorry for the cow’s affliction, but that is one cool design.

[techcor]

Professor of Physical Geography, Jon Nott of James Cook University,

Do they have a professor of Mental Geography? A professor of Philosophical Geography? How about Metaphorical Geography?

[Daffynition]

There's a road in Killingworth, CT named Roast Meat Hill. Legend has it that in the 18th C, a farmer's oxen were pulling his wagon up the hill and a summer squall came through ...lightning stuck and killed the beasts ...hence, the quaint street name.

[Daffynition]

Done just right ... very rare!