British Tourist Steve Barrett Struck by Lightning While Fishing in France

A British tourist narrowly escaped death after being struck by lightning in a freak accident while fishing in the French countryside. Steve Barrett, 54, from Dorset, was enjoying a trip to the Carp Zoo fishery in the Loire Valley when the terrifying incident happened on Friday, June 13 — a day often associated with bad luck.

Steve, a gardener by profession, was standing just 10 feet away from a tree when it was hit by a sudden bolt of lightning. The current reportedly “bounced” off the tree and hit Steve’s fishing rod, knocking him off his feet and leaving him temporarily paralysed.

“I Couldn’t Feel My Body”

Steve described the horror moment in vivid detail: “It was just one strike — bang — and I felt this massive heat on my left side. I was immediately paralysed. I had pins and needles everywhere, then I blacked out.”

The strike left Steve with serious injuries, including broken ribs, burns, bruising, and a hole in his shoulder from flying wood splinters. One piece of tree debris missed his neck by inches.

His friends rushed to help him, and paramedics quickly arrived. Steve spent five days in hospital before returning home. Thankfully, doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

“If the lightning had hit me directly, I wouldn’t be here. I feel extremely lucky,” he said.

Not an Isolated Incident

Just weeks earlier, another tragic lightning strike in Florida claimed the life of 29-year-old newlywed Jake Rosencranz. He was standing in shallow water at New Smyrna Beach when lightning struck. Despite CPR and emergency efforts, he died the following day.

Steve’s story is a powerful reminder of nature’s unpredictability. Lightning-related injuries, though rare, can be fatal or cause lifelong complications.