Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Saved by my iPod: Girl survives lightning strike after wire diverts 300,000 volts
Daily Mail ^ | 19th June 2009 | Daily Mail

Posted on 06/19/2009 3:10:13 PM PDT by AngieGal

A teenage girl survived a terrifying lightning strike after she was saved by the wire of her iPod.

Schoolgirl Sophie Frost and her boyfriend Mason Billington, both 14, stopped to shelter under a tree when a storm struck as they were walking near their homes.

Doctors believe Sophie survived the 300,000-volt surge only because it travelled through the gadget’s wire, diverting it away from her vital organs.

The teenager was taken to hospital and is recovering from burns to her chest and legs while Mason suffered damage to his eyes.

Both are expected to make a full recovery and Sophie may not even have a permanent scar.

She will be thankful she was wearing her iPod, which she had been given four days earlier as a gift from her grandmother.

Returning from hospital yesterday after three days of treatment, she said: ‘I’m just glad to be alive. I don’t remember a thing about what happened, but from what everyone tells me it’s a miracle I’m still here.

‘Everybody’s said the iPod must have diverted the lightning away from my body, which probably saved my life. I’ve got a few burns, but it’s all healing OK.’

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: accident; ipod; lightning
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 last
To: B-Chan

Which, I suspect, is why we and other like minded folks all live in Texas. :D


41 posted on 06/20/2009 2:32:13 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: AngieGal
A couple days ago we had a bad storm system pass through our area in East Tennessee. A 14 year old girl the next county over from me got hit in the hand by lightning. Obviously it wasn't a direct hit but was very close. She was taken to a local hospital to be checked but was fine. The report was she was at the doorway at her house going inside I think.

I have some nice tall lightning attractors up behind my house now. TVA high voltage transmission line steel towers. Every storm that passes over pops them at least once.

42 posted on 06/20/2009 2:51:02 AM PDT by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgement? Which one say ye?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pabianice

well that all depends on how much time it had to divert 300,000 volts over doesn’t it..

There is no way that it took all 300,000V but you would be amaze what a wire could do for a tenth of a second. It very well amy have saved her life..


43 posted on 06/20/2009 8:16:56 AM PDT by N3WBI3 (Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you. -- Londo Mollari)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: grjr21

unless you generate an arc for .1-.5 seconds that does not mean anything..


44 posted on 06/20/2009 8:19:19 AM PDT by N3WBI3 (Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you. -- Londo Mollari)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: grjr21; RFEngineer

Well if you want to get *really* technical the lightning would have went through both her and the wire in proportions inverse to their impedance.


45 posted on 06/20/2009 8:20:35 AM PDT by N3WBI3 (Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you. -- Londo Mollari)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Right Wing Assault

and they are right but to say ‘it was not the wire that saved here it was the vaporized wire’ is being jut a bit too picky don’t you think?

There is no doubt the wire did not survive the ordeal..


46 posted on 06/20/2009 8:22:50 AM PDT by N3WBI3 (Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you. -- Londo Mollari)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: exist

You know I finally got around to watching Twilight. I wish I could have those two hours back. It was drab.


47 posted on 06/20/2009 12:49:51 PM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson