A Queensland woman, Carly Electric, experienced a life-altering event when a lightning strike temporarily paralyzed her and unexpectedly changed her eye color. The 30-year-old, who had always been fascinated by storms, never imagined she would have such a close encounter with one.
Struck by Lightning While Watching a Storm
In December 2023, Ms. Electric rushed outside to witness a storm when a powerful bolt of lightning struck her. The impact left her feeling as if she had been “drugged,” causing her to lose all sensation in her limbs.
“I was covered in sweat, light-headed, and almost euphoric. I couldn’t move, not even an inch,” she recalled, as reported by the New York Post.
When emergency responders arrived, they found her hands and feet had turned blue. Although she remained conscious, she struggled to breathe and could only move her head and neck. She later drifted in and out of consciousness at the hospital for several hours.
Temporary Paralysis and an Unusual Transformation
Doctors diagnosed Ms. Electric with keraunoparalysis, a condition that causes temporary limb paralysis after a lightning strike. While she eventually regained movement, she noticed an unexpected change—her green eyes had turned dark brown.
“My previously green eyes are now dark brown,” she said. “When I looked it up online, I discovered it wasn’t uncommon for this to happen in people who had been electrocuted.”
She also reported heightened sensitivity at the point where the lightning struck her head. “It’s hot to the touch, so I have to avoid it when brushing my hair,” she explained.
Lightning Strikes and Mysterious Effects
Ms. Electric is not the first to report unusual changes after a lightning strike. In 2017, a teenager in Alabama claimed that she no longer needed glasses after being electrocuted, as her vision had significantly improved.
While the phenomenon remains rare, Ms. Electric’s experience highlights the unpredictable and powerful effects of lightning on the human body.
