Jolting trip to mailboxLightning survivor gets hole in cap, skips hospital By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, August 31, 2007
Lightning survivor gets hole in cap, skips hospital 
NITA BIRMINGHAM Greg Schneider, 37, holds the cap he was wearing Thursday when he was struck by lightning in Summerville. SUMMERVILLE — It was raining and lightning was popping when Greg Schneider went out to check the mail shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday. That's about all Schneider, 37, remembers after a lightning strike burned a 2-inch hole in his favorite Ducks Unlimited baseball cap. Schneider wound up sprawled on his back on the front lawn of his house on Alwyn Boulevard. "There was mail all around him," neighbor Brian Koellner said. Schneider said he came to as Koellner's 11-year-old son, Taylor, poked him and called out, "Mr. Greg, Mr. Greg." Another neighbor leaned over him and asked, "Greg, are you OK? Your hat's smoking." Paramedics tried to get Schneider to go to the hospital, but he refused. He complained of a twitch in his right eye and said he ached down to his joints. He was initially unable to recall his own birth date, and about an hour after the strike he still didn't remember driving home from his job as a general contractor. It's not unusual for people struck by lightning to suffer from memory loss, according to the National Weather Service. Other symptoms include attention deficits, sleep disorders, numbness, dizziness, joint stiffness, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, depression and an inability to sit for long. Schneider pointed to a small black spot on the bottom of his right foot near his toes that he said wasn't there before the strike. He was wearing brown, rubber flip-flops that weren't damaged. His dark brown, curly hair was falling out in the area underneath the hole in his olive-colored cap. "I got half a haircut," he joked with Koellner. He just doesn't want to remember how it happened. Emergency crews told Schneider the lightning most likely hit something nearby and traveled over to him. He said he was walking away from his metal mailbox when he was hit. Documented lightning injuries in the United States average about 300 per year, but undocumented injuries are likely much higher, the National Weather Service said. A 17-year-old soccer player died Wednesday in Spartanburg after he was struck on the head by a lightning bolt. Reach Nita Birmingham at 745-5858 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 17 comment(s)
Posted by jsmcadory on August 31, 2007 at 5:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is why my butt stays put inside when it's lightening. This man is lucky as heck!!
Posted by robeweise on August 31, 2007 at 6 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think I'd call him lucky.
Posted by jsmcadory on August 31, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This man could have been killed so why not call him lucky???
Posted by southbel on August 31, 2007 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Um, why did he refuse to get checked out at the hospital?? Hell, I get struck by lightening, yeah, I think my butt would be at the hospital. There's one instance I think at least a check up is in order!! LOL!
Posted by charlene68 on August 31, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree southbel.. that is nothing to playwith. that is very serious
Posted by hawneena on August 31, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy obviously has a good sense of humor, or that lightning strike did more damage than he realizes.
I hope he doesn't have problems down the road.
Posted by Rachey on August 31, 2007 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if he has any superhero powers now????
Posted by wlakegirl on August 31, 2007 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am very happy that he's still with us. It was extremely scary. We visited the hospital after the interview. Still in a lot of pain, but so far so good...
Posted by hawneena on August 31, 2007 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr.Schneider, please don't believe that lightning never strikes twice. Look at the stories about the forest rangers that have been struck numerous times.
If you have any lasting affects, I hope they are positive ones......like being able to pick the winning lottery numbers. :)
Posted by meow on August 31, 2007 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Update: Greg now has the ability to read women's minds. He did state that they "sure do like shoes" and they all think he is an a$$hole
Posted by LowcountryGent on August 31, 2007 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God spoke to that boy.Maybe he will get a job and stop telling those tales to his senior citizen wife.
Posted by robeweise on August 31, 2007 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd call him lucky if he won the lottery, I'd call someone who got struck by lightning unlucky. Thats just me though.
Posted by meow on September 1, 2007 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, he could not remember going to work after being struck. This is actually from not having a job.
Posted by LowcountryGent on September 1, 2007 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UPDATE: Not Greg's wife, just the woman he lives off of (25 years his senior). LEECH!
Posted by wwwgrg on September 8, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONCERN MINUS A FEW WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO OR SAY. NOT DOING TO BAD GOOD DAYS &DAD ONES ALSO. FEEL FREE TO COME BY.
THANK YOU.
GREG S.
Posted by LowcountryGent on September 8, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad you're doing ok. Get well and find employment!
Posted by meow on September 9, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Update: Greg has had his IQ tested. It is now 15. Up 5 points from before the lightning strike. As you can see he has used his new found knowledge to venture to the Internet. He types worse than a first grader but he will get better. Thank you Jesus for looking after this special person