Central Islip Man Struck By Lightning Describes Experience

BAY SHORE, NY - Jose Campos, who was struck by lightning while working at a Bay Shore construction company on Monday, shared details of the experience during a press conference at Southside Hospital.

Campos, 48, of Central Islip, was at his job at the Roman Stone Construction Company on South 4th Street when he was struck by lightning during the morning downpour at about 10:15 a.m.

"Mr. Campos was very mindful of taking extra precautions during the early morning downpour, all to no avail," an advisory from the hospital read.

After the strike Campos was on the ground for about 20 minutes and unable to walk or see.

When he regained consciousness was able to crawl towards the building and get the attention of a coworker who called an ambulance to bring him to the hospital in Bay Shore.

"Although he still feels intense heat and pain throughout his body, Mr. Campos considers himself lucky to be alive," the advisory read.

During the conference Campos said through a Spanish language interpreter that he was struck while holding a metal cable about 150 feet from the building.

"I didn’t feel my legs, my whole body felt numb," he said.

He saw the lightning strike about 20 feet in front of him and travel across the ground until it reached him.

The doctors said he was fortunate the lightning didn't strike him directly as most people who are struck by lightning don't survive.

Gregory Garra, DO, associate chairman of emergency medicine at Southside Hospital, explained that lightning strikes are different than touching an electrical socket, etc. because the duration of time is shorter and there is no burn exit wound with lightning strikes.

According to Garra, the way that Campos was hit by the lightning traveling on the ground, is common. Lightning can travel up to 30 meters.

Michael Grossman, MD, chief of trauma surgery at Southside Hospital, said Campos was fortunate that he didn’t have any broken bones from this incident.

During a lightning strike, a person’s muscles can spasm so much that that causes a bone to break.

Campos has no physical injuries but continues to feels intense heat and pain in his body.

During the press conference doctors said that Campos may experience PTSD as a result of the lightning strike.

Photo courtesy of Southside Hospital