A golfer in Cincinnati, Ohio, captured a terrifying moment on camera when lightning struck him while he was standing beneath a tree during a thunderstorm. The man was recording friends trying to push a golf cart when the bolt suddenly hit him.
The video shows the golfer laughing and filming his friends as they struggled to move the cart up an incline. Moments later, a bright flash and loud bang mark the lightning strike.
According to the supplied report, the man was struck on the arm and escaped without major injuries. The incident is a stark reminder that standing under a tree during a thunderstorm can be extremely dangerous, even when someone believes they have found temporary shelter.
What happened when lightning struck the golfer?
The incident occurred at a golf course in Cincinnati on Friday as heavy rain moved into the area.
The golfer and his friends were caught on the course with their golf cart. While his friends attempted to push the cart up an incline, he stood beneath a tree holding an umbrella and recorded them.
The footage reportedly captures the moment lightning struck. A sudden flash is followed by a loud crack and a visible spark around the man.
The golfer survived the strike and, according to the report, did not sustain major injuries. He was reportedly hit on the arm.
The incident illustrates an important point about thunderstorms: an umbrella does not provide meaningful protection from lightning, and a tree is not a safe shelter.
Why is standing under a tree during lightning dangerous?
Trees can become dangerous targets during thunderstorms because lightning often strikes tall objects.
When lightning hits a tree, the electrical current can travel through or along the tree and then spread through the surrounding ground. A person standing nearby can be injured by this current even if the lightning does not directly strike them.
A person can also be injured through side flash, when part of the electrical discharge jumps from a nearby object to a person.
Ground currents create another danger. After lightning hits the ground or an object, electricity can spread outward across the surface.
This means simply avoiding the exact point where lightning strikes is not enough. Being close to a tree or other tall object can still put someone at serious risk.
What should you do if lightning starts while you are outdoors?
The safest option is to get inside a substantial enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle as quickly as possible.
The National Weather Service’s basic lightning safety guidance is straightforward: when thunder roars, go indoors.
If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to pose a risk. Waiting until you see a nearby strike is not a safe strategy because lightning can travel considerable distances from a thunderstorm.
If you are on a golf course, do not shelter beneath a tree simply because it appears to offer protection from rain.
Instead:
- Leave the course as soon as you hear thunder.
- Get inside a substantial building or enclosed vehicle.
- Stay away from trees, poles and other tall isolated objects.
- Avoid fences, machinery and other conductive objects.
- Do not remain in exposed areas simply because the rain temporarily stops.
- Wait until the storm has safely passed before returning outdoors.
Is there a safe position if you cannot reach shelter?
There is no truly safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm.
This is an important correction to a common piece of lightning advice. The so-called “lightning crouch,” which involves squatting low with your feet together, is no longer recommended as a reliable way to protect yourself.
The best strategy is to seek proper shelter.
If no shelter is immediately available, move away from isolated tall objects and avoid open, exposed areas. Do not lie flat on the ground, because doing so increases the amount of your body in contact with a potentially electrically charged surface.
The golfer in Ohio was particularly vulnerable because he was outdoors, near a tree and holding an umbrella during an active thunderstorm.
Why are golf courses especially dangerous during thunderstorms?
Golf courses can create a dangerous combination of factors during lightning storms.
Players are often exposed across large open areas with relatively few substantial buildings nearby. Golf clubs, carts and other equipment can also create a false sense of security without providing the protection of an enclosed structure.
Trees scattered around a course may look like convenient shelters during heavy rain. In reality, an isolated tree can become one of the most dangerous places to stand during a thunderstorm.
Golfers should leave the course at the first sign of a developing storm rather than attempting to finish a hole or reach the clubhouse after lightning is already nearby.
What happens to the human body when lightning strikes?
Lightning carries an enormous electrical charge and can cause severe injuries, even when a person survives.
Possible effects include burns, neurological injuries, heart problems, hearing damage and temporary or permanent effects on the nervous system.
Not every person struck by lightning experiences the same outcome. Some survive with relatively limited injuries, while others suffer life-threatening complications.
A lightning strike can also cause cardiac arrest. Immediate emergency medical treatment can therefore be critical.
The Ohio golfer’s apparent survival without major injury should not be interpreted as evidence that lightning strikes are usually harmless.
Can lightning strike the same place twice?
Yes.
The idea that lightning cannot strike the same location twice is a myth. Tall structures and other exposed locations can be struck repeatedly.
The Empire State Building, for example, is struck by lightning multiple times during thunderstorms because of its height and location.
The broader lesson is simple: an area that has already experienced a lightning strike is not suddenly safe.
What should you do if someone is struck by lightning?
A person struck by lightning does not remain electrically charged, so it is safe to touch them and provide assistance.
Call emergency medical services immediately and begin first aid or CPR if necessary and if you are able to do so.
If multiple people are present, rescuers should also make sure the storm does not continue to put them at risk. Lightning can strike the same area repeatedly.
A lightning strike is always a medical emergency, even when the victim appears conscious or relatively uninjured.
Lightning strikes have recently caused other deadly incidents
The Cincinnati incident comes amid other recent reports of lightning strikes.
In Thailand, footballer Safwan Awae died after lightning struck near him during the Golok Cup regional tournament at Santiphap Stadium in Narathiwat province, according to the supplied report.
Video from the incident reportedly showed Awae collapsing after the lightning strike, with flames appearing near the impact area. His teammates rushed to help before he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The contrast between the two incidents is a reminder that lightning injuries can vary dramatically depending on the circumstances of the strike.
A lightning strike on a plane is different
Another recent incident involved a China Southern Airlines Airbus A321 at Shenzhen airport.
The aircraft was struck by lightning while taxiing during a thunderstorm. An inspection later found approximately 20 strike marks on the underside and elevator areas of the aircraft.
Passengers were moved to another aircraft while the plane underwent inspection and repairs.
Airliners are designed to handle lightning strikes. Their conductive exterior allows electrical current to travel around the aircraft rather than simply passing through the passenger cabin.
That is very different from standing outdoors beneath a tree. An aircraft provides a substantially more protective environment during a thunderstorm than an exposed person on a golf course.
What is the biggest lesson from the Ohio lightning video?
The dramatic footage is not just a viral weather clip. It shows how quickly conditions can become dangerous.
The golfer was focused on his friends and their stuck cart when lightning struck. The tree and umbrella may have appeared to provide shelter from the rain, but neither protected him from the electrical threat.
The safest rule remains the simplest one: if you hear thunder, get inside.
For publication, the lightning safety guidance should be fact-checked against the U.S. National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The details of the Ohio incident, including the golfer’s injuries and location, should be attributed to the original reporting or verified through local authorities where possible.
