Teen Hit By Lightning While Playing Poker Online

**radio667** · 07-21-2006, 10:46 PM

fromwftv.com ....... POSTED: 1:55 pm EDT July 20, 2006
UPDATED: 5:50 pm EDT July 20, 2006

CANTONMENT, Fla. -- A teenager hit by lightning while playing online poker spent Thursday recovering at an area hospital.

Eddie Wilkenson, 17, was electrocuted Wednesday afternoon when a lightning strike traveled through his home computer.

"I heard the lightning and I saw a flash. I felt a jolt go up my right arm and through my whole body," he told the Pensacola News Journal. "I couldn't move. My whole body was weak."

A few minutes later, he phoned his mother for help.

She called paramedics and drove across town to reach her son.

The family said the teen will need physical therapy to recover full use of his arm.

Eddie Wilkenson said he had been warned about using the computer in storms, but didn't take the warnings seriously.

"Where there is thunder, there is lightning. If you hear it, don't get on your computer," he said Wednesday night.

Computers can be protected from lightning strikes by surge protectors

SkaarjMaster · 07-22-2006, 11:26 PM

Um, sounds like maybe possibly he didn't have a surge protector, but lightning can go right through those things. I was up in that area of the country for 10 weeks doing work near the Champion pulp and paper plant in the mid-1990's.

**radio667** · 07-23-2006, 03:57 AM

Or maybe God hates under age Gamblers

07-21-2006, 10:46 PM	#1
radio667 I R Happy Goat Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 10,755 Downloads: 2	Teen Hit By Lightning While Playing Poker Online fromwftv.com ....... POSTED: 1:55 pm EDT July 20, 2006 UPDATED: 5:50 pm EDT July 20, 2006 CANTONMENT, Fla. -- A teenager hit by lightning while playing online poker spent Thursday recovering at an area hospital. Eddie Wilkenson, 17, was electrocuted Wednesday afternoon when a lightning strike traveled through his home computer. "I heard the lightning and I saw a flash. I felt a jolt go up my right arm and through my whole body," he told the Pensacola News Journal. "I couldn't move. My whole body was weak." A few minutes later, he phoned his mother for help. She called paramedics and drove across town to reach her son. The family said the teen will need physical therapy to recover full use of his arm. Eddie Wilkenson said he had been warned about using the computer in storms, but didn't take the warnings seriously. "Where there is thunder, there is lightning. If you hear it, don't get on your computer," he said Wednesday night. Computers can be protected from lightning strikes by surge protectors __________________ , "There is also a river called Helikon [in Pieria]. (...) But, they go on to say, the women who killed Orpheus wished to wash off in it the blood-stains, and thereat the River sank underground, so as not to lend its waters to cleanse manslaughter." —Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 30. 8

07-22-2006, 11:26 PM	#2
SkaarjMaster same as he ever was Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,293 Downloads: 906	Um, sounds like maybe possibly he didn't have a surge protector, but lightning can go right through those things. I was up in that area of the country for 10 weeks doing work near the Champion pulp and paper plant in the mid-1990's. __________________ http://web.archive.org/web/200812180...ondunreal.com/ "If I give up my rights, I might be safe, but what good is being safe if you have no freedoms?" by n3m35i5 "I always turn to the sports page first....They record people's accomplishments; the front page, nothing but man's failure." by Earl Warren

07-23-2006, 03:57 AM	#3
radio667 I R Happy Goat Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 10,755 Downloads: 2	Or maybe God hates under age Gamblers Attached Thumbnails __________________ , "There is also a river called Helikon [in Pieria]. (...) But, they go on to say, the women who killed Orpheus wished to wash off in it the blood-stains, and thereat the River sank underground, so as not to lend its waters to cleanse manslaughter." —Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 30. 8

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: