Russian tourist survives lightning strike (VIDEO)
A Russian tourist has survived a lightning strike in the Black Sea resort city of Batumi in Georgia. The man, named as 32-year-old Pavel Smirnov, is reportedly in hospital preparing to undergo an emergency operation.
Smirnov was on vacation with his brother and friends when they gathered on a pier to enjoy the sunset on Wednesday evening.
In footage circulating online, Smirnov and another man are seen dancing, before he suddenly falls to the ground with his clothes on fire. Smirnov was reportedly rushed to a local hospital with burns to his stomach, back, and legs.
Doctors described it as a “miracle” that Smirnov survived and did not receive the critical injuries typical of a powerful lightning strike.
His condition is stable and he is under the supervision of a cardiologist, hospital staff have told RT.
“The prognosis [for the operation] is most favorable, and therefore we think that he will be discharged in the coming days,” doctors said.
Smirnov does not have insurance and will have to pay for the treatment himself, the hospital said.
