>....I get the impression that most people who are struck directly by a >lightning bolt, either die, or are very seriously injured.... Surprisingly, that's not true. We get lots of lightning in Florida. One of the local stations had an emergency room physician on TV talking about what to do for someone who is struck (just common sense stuff). He claimed that of those directly struck, 90% with have no lasting physical damage given a day or two to settle. Of the other 10%, some will be dead and some will suffer permanent neurological damage. FWIW.... Bill Martin m/v Telegraph Hill http://home.earthlink.net/~martinwj/