'Shock to my stomach': Cypress teen reflects after lightning strikes home while playing video games
CYPRESS, Texas (KTRK) -- A one-in-a-million chance: a teen in Cypress is grateful to be okay after he was shocked when a lightning struck his home in Cypress.
13-year-old Vlad Skuridin was playing video games on his computer inside his Cypress home on Tuesday as storms roared outside.
"Super gigantic boom. I got super scared, I jumped up. I also got a shock on my stomach, so I just started screaming," said Skuridin.
Skuridin says he suddenly felt tightness in his chest, and his dad told him to lie down as they called for help.
Law enforcement says lightning struck his home on Cypress View Drive as electrical currents traveled through the home's wiring.
University of Houston physics and electrical engineering expert Edgar Bering says lightning will flow through electrical systems.
"The lightning will go into the ground through that. While it's doing that, anything connected to the electrical system can be at high voltage and a source of current. It's ok to watch TV but not touch it," said Bering.
The teen told ABC13 that he is ok but shocked by how it all happened.
"I did know that it could happen, but didn't really think it could happen to me," said Skuridin. "It's like one in a million or something."
Vlad's parents say the attic caught on fire after the lightning strike, as their gas and water lines were struck by lightning. The inside of their wall was also damaged in the surge.
They told Eyewitness News that insurance reps came to their home and said there were two lightning strikes: one to the roof and another to a tree outside.
"The safest thing might be to sit in the middle of the room and read a book. The electrical things are dangerous," Bering said.
"You can't take anything for granted," Skuridin said.
He says he just feels grateful to be alive and that his family wasn't hurt.
SEE ORIGINAL STORY: Child injured after lightning strikes home while he was using computer in NW Harris County: Pct. 4
