World

Real or Fake? Lightning Strike Video Tallies Serious Viral Traffic

CBS News:

I’ve heard of people being struck by lightning (and have even had a close call myself), but to actually see it caught on tape?

This is one of those videos that will leave you in shock (no pun intended) and have you watching again and again. Take a look.


Comments (111)

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  • DamienMaddox
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:56pm

    Now I have the wonder years theme song stuck in my head.

    Report Post »  
  • JPRAustin
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:50pm

    As fake as Obama‘s love for this country and it’s people.

    Report Post » JPRAustin  
  • WileyPeyote
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:42pm

    1. Whether the blt passed through him or around him, it goes to ground with immense energy in the form of heat. The ground is wet and there is no steam visible.

    2. Lightning seeks the shortest pathway to ground, blindly following the laws of physics in doing so. In the video we can see structures far taller than the putative victim and far more likely to have drawn the lightning.

    3. Even if the lightning somehow went near or around the man without actually passing through him, its proximity should have caused burns and other damage and visibly so.

    4. One very common mistake made in hoax videos is overlooking the reason why the video is being shot in the first place before the unexpected event occurs. We’ll see an empty field with nothing going on and zooom a UFO passes across the sky in the distance, but why was an empty field being taped? Why is this man being videotaped when the lightning strike occurs?

    5. Slow-mo the video and the lightning flash is a uniform whiteout, which is highly unusual for video of lightning strike and strongly suggests photoshopping.

    6. He is uninjured and unmarked, not even singed. If this is because the lightning struck very near him but not on him, why does he go down? What force knocked him down and yet failed to injure or mark him with burns?

    Report Post » WileyPeyote  
  • AmericanHorse
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:31pm

    Come on. A direct hit like that would leave nothing but a puddle of boiling bone soup.

    Report Post »  
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:29pm

    The dude looks like Borat.

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
  • 5410amh
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:05pm

    If you ever feel the hair on the back of you’re neck stand up during a thunderstorm, HIT THE DECK.

    Report Post »  
  • cookcountypatriot
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:58am

    as fake as a racer

    Report Post » cookcountypatriot  
  • thinkinghuman
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:53am

    There was a REAL story in the news about a man who was struck by lightning while operating a lift which caught the lightning, and the force of the current that passed through his hands and out his feet to the ground literally blew his feet off at the ankles. GONE. There is too much current. This is not your drinking fountain zap LOL. What a phony fake unbelievable vid. There were buildings all around. Lightning seeks the SHORTEST connection to earth. It doesn’t pass by all those buildings and then find a human way down there on the street level LOL.

    Report Post » thinkinghuman  
  • Lion420
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:53am

    Looks great, but with that kinda voltage, wouldn’t you get singed…a little?

    Report Post » Lion420  
  • Rashomon
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:47am

    He had the 1.21 gigawatt’s, but no way did he hit 88 MPH.

    Report Post » Rashomon  
  • t228
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:47am

    I love the hair and Stache! Cool but, fake.

    Report Post » t228  
  • Quarter
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:38am

    We also call our countrys financel condistion fake!

    Stop walking around looking at things through “rose colored glasses’

    if you keep on looking at things, (fake) the obama administration propeganda
    and the g. o.p. Will know the public can and will be sterable.

    _sorry if I am off subject_

    Report Post »  
  • wheels
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:36am

    Is that Johnny Knoxville?

    Report Post » wheels  
  • integrican
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:30am

    I was waiting for him to pick up the umbrella and do a scene from “Dancing in the Rain”

    If an old man of that age, and apparent fraility, slipped and fell, he would not rise to his feet that quickly. Not to mention, being coursed with 50,000 volts of electricity. IMHO.

    Report Post » integrican  
  • V-Forge
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:30am

    Well it could be real but if the guys standing there filming were in the rain they would have been hit too. It’s like down south where you can find a dozen cows that died when hit by lightning. they tend to huddle together during the rain but that much juice in the rain on a wet surface can kill or hurt you for dozens of feet away and they were pretty close. Also the EM effect of a bolt of lightning would most likely fizzle a electrical device that was that close or at least make it glitch the instant it hit. here there is nothing. And again we see the youth of today giggling about something and not even think of helping the poor man. That part at least is real.

    Report Post » V-Forge  
  • voidzm
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:18am

    If it’s fake, it was very well thought out. If you watch closely, the lightning first glows at his feet, then rising into the primary strike: exactly like a real lightning bolt.

    Report Post »  
    • crackerone
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:33am

      It’s as queer as a 3 dollar bill or queer as the guy doing cartwheels!

      Report Post »  
  • manray favjet
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:16am

    Fake lighting strike, fake old man.

    Report Post »  
  • Airdoc
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:14am

    Even IF he survived the hit, the amount of electricity sent through his body would have sent him into cardiac arrest.

    Report Post »  
  • reconmarine
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:12am

    So they just happened to be filming someone crossing the street in the pouring rain who just happened to get struck by lightening and then stand back up again. This is called an Obama…which means it’s fake.

    Report Post »  
  • Tlc3Terry
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:11am

    Lmao this is totally fake! Ok lets look at the video closely! First look at the way the guy is supposedly walking! Like hes going do wa diddy then all you really see is a flash of light not lighting, next when the guy the guy is kinda staggering to his feet? There is no spot where you can see where the lighting struck him or his umbrella! Not to mention there is nothing smoking like it was ust hit with lighting! Because if you get that much electicity going through something it burns it!

    This is a TOTAL scam!
    But its good i gotta give them that!

    Report Post » Tlc3Terry  
  • quicker
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:10am

    If this is real then this man had better thank God that he is alive .Just wondering why he dosn`t have savere burns .Or that he was able to get up so quickly.

    Report Post » quicker  
  • CanteenBoy
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:07am

    Pretty good if it’s fake.

    Report Post » CanteenBoy  
  • robx
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:07am

    Its clearly fake, even the rain is fake, look how heavy its raining on him, yet no rain hitting the ground anywhere else. What is there a ten foot radius cloud directly over head? lol

    Report Post » robx  
    • SlimnRanger
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 3:42pm

      @Snow, no sir he was left for the coyotes and buzzards to clean up, what a waste

      Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:05am

    We have known people who were stuck by lightening.

    I have had it hit near me as I drove around a curve during a thunderstorm with the window on my side down as I was defogging the windshield.The tiny hairs on the back of my neck did stand up from the closeness of the strike.

    Scary!

    Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:39am

      I’m wondering if the ribs of the umbrella helped to form the cone of protection, as on a sailboat. I also don’t know that it was a direct hit or not. I can tell you that I was in a cabin at camp years ago when lightning hit, rolled around the beam at the top of the walls, and gave one of the counselors a bad headache.

      I don’t know if it was real or fake, but I can tell you that, being 5′ 11″ tall, I don’t carry an umbrella if I hear thunder. I’d rather get wet than to feel like Ben Franklin with his kite.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:39am

      Been hit directly here on a couple of occasions, this video is a fake; the results of a strike directly do not have you getting up so quickly or easily, and the shockwave from the air being heated by it is immense, the cameraman would have been shaken or the camera to say the least.

      It’s a well done hoax though.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • prepper1776
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:13pm

      i’ve been in the shower twice during storms and been shocked and could feel it up to my waist. needless to say i dont do that anymore. third times the charm

      Report Post »  
    • SlimnRanger
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:57pm

      I say it’s fake, several years back i had a nice black bull hit by lighting,he didn’t get back up.

      Report Post »  
    • Praise!
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:07pm

      We have heard from dozens of actual lightning survivors – and every story is different! Physics are amazing! I wonder if the same hoax happened to Benjamin Franklin while he was flying his famous (but legendary) kite. Of course, he was only 5′4″ tall, so maybe real lightning did not hit him.

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:54pm

      @SlimnRanger:

      Interesting; hope someone was around soon afterward to serve burgers on a bun – already cooked!

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 4:46pm

      I thought it was real at first until he got up and was obvious drunk and also not wet!!
      http://wp.me/pYLB7-VK

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • Deb C
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 5:28pm

      Fake – something would have been smoking

      Report Post » Deb C  
  • and to the republic
    Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:00am

    fake

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:02am

      Sorry, been there and done that, this video is a well done fake.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • crackerone
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:07am

      Ditto!

      Report Post »  
    • hersey10
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:08am

      Not a chance in heck that’s real , he’d either explode or look like a piece of burnt chicken skin . Furthermore it’s raining heavily and he looks completely dry .

      Report Post » hersey10  
    • beckisnuts
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:13am

      Another fluff story??? Where’s the real news. like the power struggle for control of Iran that’s reported all over and at Fox:

      http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/04/28/ahmadinejad-reportedly-showing-work-sparking-rumors-possible-power-shift/

      Report Post »  
    • dealer@678
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:13am

      Even the guys hair and mustache are fake

      Report Post »  
    • garyandtricia
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:17am

      I always wonder, “Why would they film that?” The guy was just crossing the street. FAKE all the way.

      Report Post »  
    • Obama Bin Lying
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:19am

      I am calling Shenanigans on this one.

      Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • theonefromabove
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:28am

      It was made to look real you can tell it is fake though.

      http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:45am

      @beckisnuts

      I seen you bring this up a bit recently, as have we all. We’re watching and chasing the links for verification and detail.

      Thanks.

      Report Post »  
    • stephenb.net
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:50am

      The guy was drunk and someone was waiting for him to fall and was shooing the video. Then they dubbed in the lightning effect…in my opinion

      Report Post »  
    • Bob_R_OathKeeper
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 11:56am

      It’s real, I could smell the liquor boiling in his blood from here, LOL.

      Report Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
    • Showtime
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:01pm

      You can see the lightning streak, and you can see the man’s reflection from the water. The umbrella had a (plastic?) handle.

      It was raining, and you can hear the thunder afterwards.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • beckisnuts
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:05pm

      Thanks NZKIWI. It’s a fascinating development to say the very least. I wonder how this impacts Beck’s theories behind his Rumors of War video? I haven’t seen the entire thing, as I won’t be joining Insider Extreme. Have you seen the video and if so, what is your take oin this development and its impact on the scenario Glenn has laid out?

      Report Post »  
    • mtnclimberjim
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:08pm

      I was running a gold dredge in the river last year and had the same thing happen to me. I think it has to do with the amount of water around you and the amount of voltage of coarse. Just a bit freaky to say the least. I now have a arrhythmia that shows up now and again. I knew things were bad when all the dead fish floated up. Yhe bolt itself did not hit that guy.

      Report Post » mtnclimberjim  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:18pm

      as kids we got stuck in lightning storm, 3 kids got hit. They were knocked to the ground and their converse chuck taylors melted. nothing else happened. i saw the lightning hit them just like in the video. local newspaper did a story, and converse sent them new sneakers. happened in 1983 in worc ma

      Report Post »  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:20pm

      The only thing more fake than this is Obama’s long form birth certificate. It was probably made by the same people!

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • LetUsReason
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:33pm

      Fake….the mustache gave it away

      Report Post »  
    • Love_Small_Dogs
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:36pm

      That is an actual video of Reverend Terry Jones being scolded for all the innocent lives he cost!
      “Repent and do no more harm!”

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • TheBees
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:37pm

      Deffinately fake!! From what I’v heard his shoes would have been blown off!

      Report Post »  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:51pm

      Hershey10

      I believe you are right. His hair is what I was noticing and it doesn’t even look damp. I run to the car when it is sprinkling and My hair is soaked. Well done though. I would be very surprised if this is real. lol or Maybe the heat from the strike just “Dryed” his hair.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:52pm

      @NZKiwi:

      Here is something of interest I found yesterday afternoon, it is a report of Libyan rebels selling shells of poison gas and nerve agents to Hamas and Hezbolla. I am still looking for additional info on any solid details though.

      http://www.debka.com/article/20811/

      Also, look up the sight emirate247.com for articles on Saudi Arabia buying arms from China now, including missiles capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads. It looks like Saudi Arabia may be getting ready to strike at Iran while Obama will do nothing about Iranian nukes.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • MR_ANDERSON
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:52pm

      Fake, you can see the reflection in the car’s bumper light up faster than the actual bolt of lightning.

      Report Post »  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 12:53pm

      Dude had his groove on walking into the street. He wouldn’t have been able to stand that quick or I at all after lightening strike, further more, I dought the camera man would have been standing as well.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:37pm

      WHEN are all of you going to realize the blaze is now controlled…. You SERIOUSLY want the news
      I N F O W A R S.com Drudge Report.com More then 4 headlines
      WAKE UP AMERICA WATCH TERRORSTORM ON GOOGLE VIDEO ALONG WITH
      AMERICA FREEDOM TO FASCISM GOOGLE OR YOU TUBE

      ITS SO SAD TO SEE THIS ONCE GREAT NATION be destroyed to nothing

      Heres a name that makes me SICK George Orwell he said something that i will never forget

      During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
      George Orwell

      I tell people when they meet me YOU WILL LOVE ME OR HATE ME WHy????
      Because i only tell the TRUTH GOOD BAD OR INDIFFERENT
      If you dont want the TRUTH DONT ASK ME

      Report Post »  
    • seeker9
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:37pm

      Fake. Any one that close to a strike would take some time to recover, clean their underwear, etc., both the target and the recorder.

      Report Post » seeker9  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:39pm

      Fakey Fakey

      Report Post »  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 1:44pm

      It’s a fake. The giveaway is the rain and umbrella. The rain is primarily on the left with none running down the gutter also on the left. The Umbrella should after being struck look like a burnet match.

      Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • proliance
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 2:45pm

      I always wondered what happened to Mark Twain.

      Report Post » proliance  
    • prov1
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 3:50pm

      ///and I bet he can throw a football over Mt. Rainier and hit a 747 on the nose..

      Report Post »  
    • PA PATRIOT
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 6:08pm

      Defintely a fake. This guy would look like a burnt hot dog if he truly was hit by a direct strike. Furthermore, he would have been thrown 30 feet from where he stood.

      A big HELLO to MTNCLIMBERJIM Welcome Back!
      Sorry to hear about the arrhythmia. Perhaps a bit of Jim Beam would settle down the old ticker.
      Been fishin yet.

      Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • No1YaKnow
      Posted on April 30, 2011 at 6:45pm

      Big fake. Why would someone be filming some guy walking across the street randomly?

      Report Post » Marci  
    • StuFeils
      Posted on May 1, 2011 at 1:40am

      definitely fake…this guy looks too much like the “old man” disguise Johnny Knoxville uses on the Jackass show…

      Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on May 1, 2011 at 10:07am

      Isn’t that geraldo? If it is then it’s fake, totally fake, always fake.

      Report Post »  
    • RedPillPatriot
      Posted on May 1, 2011 at 3:38pm

      Who in the heck, sits there and films and old man slow pimpin across a crosswalk in the rain!

      I know they are bored in Russia, but FAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » RedPillPatriot  
    • RedPillPatriot
      Posted on May 1, 2011 at 3:39pm

      Or Italy, whatever, still fake!!

      Report Post » RedPillPatriot  
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