Staten Island man survives lightning strike without burns

A Staten Island man miraculously survived a direct lightning strike while walking to a dentist appointment last week, an event captured on a neighbor's doorbell camera that has since gone viral. Thomas Fahmy, a congressional staffer for U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, was struck on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during a storm in the Castleton Corners neighborhood. He was hospitalized overnight but was discharged with no burns or major injuries. The incident occurred as Fahmy was walking down Todt Avenue near Windsor Road, carrying an umbrella. Video footage shows him passing a large tree when a bright flash of lightning strikes him, knocking him to the ground. He remained on the pavement for a few moments before staggering up and calling for help. "I was nearly 15, 20 feet away from my car when I was struck by lightning," Fahmy told local media. "It was a very intense burning sensation, tingling, numbness, pain. Severe pain in both of my feet." His cries for help were heard by neighbor Stefanie Homan, who rushed outside. "I heard yelling, heard 'help me, help me,' so I ran to my door and saw him down here on the ground, so I got the phone and called 911," Homan said.