Fowler Associates Labs

Lightning Strikes Woman's Tongue Stud

Paraphrased by
Steve Waldrop
July 8, 2003

An airport worker, Becky Nyang, 26, was struck by a bolt of lightning when her lip and tongue studs acted as conductors.

Becky and a friend were vacationing in Kavos, Corfu when they were caught in an electrical storm on a beach.

While crossing a hotel courtyard, a flash of lightning bounced off a nearby archway and hit her in the face, where is was conducted by the metal jewelry in her tongue.

Doctors agree that she is lucky to be alive. The charge was so hot that she suffered blisters on her mouth, a bruised shoulder, and burns to her face and feet. She could barely speak for three days, and finds sleeping difficult. Climatology experts said that Becky would have endured temperatures of around 27, 000 degrees Fahrenheit.

While talking to reporters, Miss Nyang said that she feared that she was going to die. "All I could see was lightning, nothing else."

She went on to say that,"my body shook for about 10 minutes, although I didn't feel pain until later."

Becky agreed with the doctors that she is a lucky young woman. "I know I was so close to losing my life and never seeing my family and friends again. I have been given another chance and every second is precious.

*Picture courtsey of Reading Evening Post