Dragged home by his loyal dog, a man struck by lightning was reunited with his wife.
While walking his giant schnauzer Monty, Ian Thomas, 64, was hit by a bolt of lightning.
The massive electrical surge knocked him out cold, and doctors later mentioned that wearing gumboots saved his life.
It was only when five-year-old Monty began to whimper and lick his face that Ian regained consciousness.
Though he staggered to his feet, he soon collapsed, wrapping his arms around his devoted 8st pet; the dog then proceeded to drag him 100 yards to safety.
Describing the experience, Ian, whose wife Sharen, 42, rushed him to the hospital, stated: “I was holding a metal dog bowl, and suddenly I heard what felt like an explosion in my head, accompanied by the sound of the dog screaming.
“He makes that noise when rubbing against electric fences, so I suspect he might have been affected as well. I witnessed my legs flying forward, and I was thrown into the air.
“Eventually, I regained my senses and found myself curled up on the ground, fists clenched beneath me.
“I realized I wasn’t dead because the pain was excruciating. Trusting my instincts, I reached for Monty, and he pulled me home.”
According to doctors, the rubber soles of Ian’s boots offered protection, preventing the charge from passing directly through his body and causing fatal injury when struck.
A civic leader in Redruth, Cornwall, UK, Ian suffered burns on his head and hip, but after four days in the hospital, he was discharged and has since fully recovered.
