Hinterland Grapevine - Owen survives lightning strike

It's a shocking revelation, but one Maleny man has just realised that fulfilling the family's laundry needs can almost kill you. Owen Hutchinson was catapulted into the air by an electrical discharge from a nearby lightning strike while taking in the washing.

It was Thursday December 1 and Owen had decided to hang out the clothes on a dry summer's morning.    By lunch time the skies were darkening and he knew he had to act fast.    He decided to get it in before any downpour.    "It was the worst decision I have ever made," laughed Owen.    "As I went to unlatch the gate to get to the clothes line simultaneously there was this huge blue flash around me and I got thrown up in the air, only to land unceremoniously on my back!"

Owen said he came round on the grass a few feet away from the gate and realised what had happened to him, but remained on the grass for about a minute to check that everything was still working!    "I wasn't hit directly by the bolt, which hit a tree about 20 metres away," Owen said.    "But the hairs on the arm that I touched the gate with were singed and some electricity must have passed through me because the left side of my body went numb."

And Owen believes he has an old Aussie favourite to thank for saving him from near certain death his thongs!    "These good old Australian rubber thongs helped prevent more electricity leakage to the ground," he said.    "If I didn't have them on I'm betting everything would be much worse."

Following this close shave, which would have killed a lesser man, Owen said the immediate effects wore off within about 10 minutes - although he still suffers intermittent headaches.    "I'm not sure if it is the electricity charge causing it or if I banged my head when I landed," he said.     "But if they continue I will go and see a doctor."

And Owen has a message for us all when the storm clouds start coming. "Stuff the washing," he said.    "Let it get wet!"

Last Updated ( Sunday, 03 September 2006 )

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