Teenager struck by lightning – Apple iPod saves life
The Apple iPod, a humble little device which has been with us for a few years now, is best known for bringing entertainment into the lives of millions of people. However, it can also, in some instances, save lives. As a British girl struck by lightning recently can confirm.
Sophie Frost, a 14-year-old girl from Essex in England, and her boyfriend Mason Billington, were caught in a storm last week. Completely ignoring all the regular advice about what to do in such circumstances, they sheltered under a tree. The inevitable happened, and lightning struck the tree and then the two teenage sweethearts.
A bolt of 300,000 volts of electricity shot through the pair, who were holding hands at the time. Instead of coursing through their bodies and killing them, the lightning took the fastest route to the ground, which happened to be via the headphone wire attached to Frost’s Apple iPod and sticking out the front of her school uniform.
Both the teenagers suffered injuries, with Billington regaining consciousness first and carrying his girlfriend to the road to get help. They were both taken to the local hospital and treated for singed hair, minor burns, and nerve damage. They are expected to make a full recovery, all thanks to the fact Sophie was wearing her iPod on her at the time of the lightning strike.
Her mum told The Sun newspaper:
The doctors say her iPod saved her. Her nan only bought it a few days ago. Luckily, she wasn’t actually wearing the headphones. If she had been, she might not be here today. Mind you, the only thing Sophie seemed worried about was that her new iPod was frazzled.
Unfortunately for Sophie, the iPod was completely destroyed in the encounter with Mother Nature. Then again, I’m sure she’s thankful fate intervened and had her nan buy her the device immediately prior to the incident.
It’s clear that it was more than just the iPod that saved the teenagers’ lives – the fact they were holding hands, spreading the power of the blast, and the fact they were wearing shoes at the time would have helped – but the little gadget played its part as well. Now, how about sending Sophie a new iPod, Apple? It would be the least you could do after she’s given you this much positive publicity.
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June 21st, 2009
Stupid girl, why shelter under a tree.
June 22nd, 2009
What a wonderful story, I fancy her boyfriend.
March 11th, 2010
Lovely story; how lucky they must be.