Moment man is struck by lightning… and walks away unharmed

A man has survived after being struck by lightning in New York.

Thomas Fahmy, 24, stepped outside his front door in Staten Island on Aug 27 to head to the dentist when he was hit with a bolt from above.

Footage from a home security camera shows the Republican Party political staffer suddenly drop to the ground in a fiery flash just feet from his car.

He said: "I didn't even have a chance to step back, I just fell to the floor."

Mr Fahmy suffered no severe injuries and remained conscious the entire time, only reporting an intense burning sensation, tingling and pain in both of his feet.

Seconds later, he gathered himself, stood up and hobbled away, knocking on the nearest door for help.

Stephanie Homan came to the front door with a young child in her arms, which Mr Fahmy said reminded him of an image of the Madonna and child.

Ms Homan helped him inside her home, called 911 and within minutes emergency responders arrived.

Mr Fahmy was taken to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, in Ocean Breeze, to be examined by doctors.

He did not suffer any visible burns from the lightning strike but was monitored overnight before being released the following day.

After being discharged, he bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket and then attended church, where that day's Bible reading was about the apocalypse, which he thought was particularly apt. The odds of winning the Mega Millions lottery jackpot are one in 300 million.

Mr Fahmy works in US representative Nicole Malliotakis's Staten Island office.

Ms Malliotakis said: "We are grateful that Thomas, a member of my congressional staff, is alive and well after being struck by lightning last week.

"I thank the good Samaritan who ran to his aid and the medical staff at Staten Island University Hospital who treated him."

Mr Fahmy gained a new perspective on life after finding himself on the ground following the lightning strike.

He said: "In politics, you kind of forget sometimes that there's something bigger than you. There is a power greater than you.

"It all goes down the drain once you see life literally flash in front of your eyes."

In the United States, there is roughly a one in 1.2 million chance of being struck by lightning in any given year.

While almost 90 per cent of all people struck by lightning survive, many are left with various degrees of disability, according to the US National Weather Service.