Idaho man recovering after lightning strikes his head


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BOISE — In just a flash, a Memorial Day camping trip turned grim when an Idaho man was struck by lightning as he sought shelter from a storm.

While he may have been unlucky — only 1 in 700,000 people are struck in the U.S. each year — he’s making a “miraculously” quick recovery, according to his wife.

Ryan Cross, 34, and some friends spent the weekend riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers near Idaho City. Cross was on a four-wheeler when it began to hail.

“Ryan got off his four-wheeler and went under a tree to protect himself from the hail, leaned up against a tree, was looking at a map on his phone, and that is when it all happened,” Cross’ wife, Heather Cross, told USA Today.

Two of Cross’ friends also felt the impact of the strike — one had a ringing in his ears and the other was hit indirectly by the bolt because one of his feet was on the ground when it struck, according to Boise’s KTVB. Both were cleared by paramedics at the scene.

One of the men ran to find help and was able to track down an SUV with OnStar service to call for aid, KTVB reported.


It's something that I will never say again: 'It will never happen to me.' You know you just take storms for granted.

–Heather Cross, wife


Cross was taken to a Boise hospital with a brain bleed. The lightning bolt struck his head and went through his back, according to Heather Cross.

“The drive from Nampa to Boise was the longest drive of my life,” she said. “I didn’t know what I was going to walk into.”

Along with the brain bleed, Cross suffered a large red burn across his body from the bolt. But he seems to be recovering well, his wife told KTVB. He’s already eating and even walking around.

Doctors aren’t sure yet what, if any, long-term impact the lightning strike might have on Cross. But his wife said she considers them the lucky unlucky ones.

Photo credit: NBC

“It’s something that I will never say again: ‘It will never happen to me,’” she said. “You know you just take storms for granted.”

The best way to stay safe if caught outdoors in a lightning storm is to take shelter in a low area, such as a ravine or valley, according to ready.gov. If you can, get inside a car. While you can still be injured if lightning strikes your vehicle, you’re much safer inside than out.

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