Ohio Golfer Captures Terrifying Instant Lightning Bolt Strikes Him on the Course [WATCH]

An Ohio golfer is fortunate to be alive after his cellphone captured the terrifying instant a lightning bolt struck him during a round with friends.

The frightening encounter unfolded Friday at Pebble Creek Golf Course near Cincinnati as severe weather moved across the area, as reported by The New York Post.

Chris Schiavone had been golfing with friends when a thunderstorm rolled through and quickly transformed the course into a muddy mess.

According to USA Today, the group found itself dealing with a golf cart that had become stuck in the wet ground.

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Schiavone pulled out his phone to record his friends as they struggled to free the bogged cart. Instead of capturing a routine clip for the group chat, he recorded the kind of moment most people would prefer never to experience.

Without warning, a lightning bolt struck Schiavone in the arm and knocked him to the ground.

The dramatic video shows a sudden fiery flash immediately after the strike, followed by the chaos and confusion of a dangerously close encounter with nature.

Schiavone later said the strike temporarily left him unable to feel his body. His hearing was also affected, showing just how much force passed through him during the split-second blast.

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Despite the violent impact, Schiavone survived with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

He is now recovering, according to the outlet, after receiving a powerful reminder that thunderstorms do not care about tee times or unfinished rounds.

Schiavone eventually posted the remarkable footage on social media, where it quickly spread and collected more than two million views.

Viewers expressed amazement that he survived, though plenty also questioned the decisions leading up to the strike.

“1 in 1,000,000, they say,” Schiavone wrote while sharing the video. He added that he is “very lucky and blessed” to be alive after an incident that could easily have ended with a far more tragic result.

The online reaction included a barrage of criticism because Schiavone appeared to be standing beneath a tree while holding an umbrella during the storm.

That combination is practically a checklist of things safety experts warn people not to do when lightning is nearby.

“Dude, holding an umbrella while standing under a tree in a lightning storm is about as bad idea as jumping out of an airplane without a parachute on or sleeping outside in a bathing suit and subzero temperatures,” one commenter wrote.

Another viewer offered a shorter assessment of the obvious danger. “Before the strike I was thinking, doesn’t every golfer know not to shelter under a tree? Guess not,” the commenter quipped.

The criticism may be blunt, but the safety concern behind it is legitimate.

Golf courses are especially dangerous during thunderstorms because they contain broad open spaces, exposed players, metal equipment, isolated structures, and tall trees that can become attractive targets for lightning.

Lightning ranks among the deadliest weather hazards in the United States.

Open fields and areas near tall objects are particularly risky, while standing under a tree can expose someone to a direct strike, a side flash, or electrical current moving through the ground.

An umbrella also offers no meaningful protection from lightning, regardless of how effectively it blocks rain.

When thunder can be heard, the safest move is to stop the game, abandon the cart if necessary, and seek shelter inside a substantial building or enclosed vehicle.

The National Weather Service urges people to move indoors as soon as they hear thunder rather than waiting for lightning to appear nearby.

Its guidance is simple enough for every golfer, hiker, coach, and outdoor worker to remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”

Schiavone’s viral recording provides a chilling demonstration of why that warning matters.

He walked away lucky, blessed, and recovering, but the next person who tries to squeeze in one more shot while the sky is rumbling may not receive the same mercy.

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