Flip, flop, boom

Bruce Wilson reflects on his near-death experience.

A Taupō man who was struck by lightning near Kinloch during Friday’s heavy thunderstorms says it hasn’t put him off venturing outside during a thunderstorm but he will be more cautious about what he chooses to lean against and will definitely be wearing his jandals.   

Bruce Wilson believes his rubber jandals and the rubber wheels on a mobile metal scaffolding unit saved him from serious injury after being struck by lightning at his property near Kinloch during Friday’s heavy thunderstorms.

Wilson,70, had gone outside to cover a mower parked on the side of the house as the storm hit at about 5pm.  

He was leaning on a mobile scaffolding unit that he had been using to stain his house, after hearing a “huge clap of thunder” in the direction of a block of trees about 400 metres to the west of the property.  

Seconds later he was blinded by a huge flash of light – “a bit like two arc welders” – and  thrown off his feet several metres into the side of the house.

“One minutes I was leaning on the scaffolding looking at the sky and the next I was lying in a heap beside the house.”

He was dazed and shocked but escaped with a sore shoulder and sore eyes.  

The day before the storm he needed a shot of adrenalin from an epipen after being stung by a bee so was already feeling a bit the worse for wear. 

Wilson believes a lightning bolt probably hit the sky dish on the roof and arced down to the metal scaffolding. 

The sky dish was damaged and several fuses blew in the house. His hearing aids were also damaged and will need replacing.

Wilson said you can never be too careful when thunderstorms are in the vicinity.     

He has had a cheeky offer for the “lucky “ jandals, but is planning to hold on to them and buy a Lotto ticket.