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Cyclist survived lightning strike - because he was wearing headphones

Charge went down cable and earthed through Zoran Jurkovic's penis...

A Croatian man who was struck by lightning while cycling survived because he was wearing headphones, according to the website of local magazine, 24 Sata.

Zoran Jurkovic, now aged 41, had been riding his bike to his work on a farm near Petrovci in 2007 when a storm closed in, said 24 Sata in a report last week.

Instead of passing through his body, which doctors say would have stopped his heart and damaged internal organs, the charge went down the headphone cable, attached to a radio on his belt.

He was dressed in work clothes, including rubber boots, and instead of earthing via his feet, the charge earthed through his penis.

Jurkovic said that he had been trying to pedal to shelter when he was struck by the lightning bolt, but it was “too late.”

He was found by people passing by in a van, one of whom told 24 Sata: “We were shocked when we saw the man. He was sitting in the rain, with steam rising from him … [and] burns on his head and neck.”

They put him in the van and took him to hospital, where doctors said it was a “miracle” he was alive.

Opinion may be split on whether or not you should wear headphones while riding – but in this case, it turned out to be a life-saver.

If you are caught in a thunderstorm while riding your bike, you should seek shelter immediately.

Should none be available, if you are cycling with one or more other people, move away from one another so in the event someone is struck, another person can summon help.

Further advice can be found on the RoSPA website.

http://www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/advice/lightning/

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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15 comments

Avatar
PhilRuss | 7 years ago
0 likes

[[[[[  So anyway---how was it for him?

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themartincox | 7 years ago
2 likes

His penis was touching the ground? Whilst riding?

how did he not get it caught in the spokes?

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fukawitribe replied to themartincox | 7 years ago
2 likes

themartincox wrote:

His penis was touching the ground? Whilst riding?

how did he not get it caught in the spokes?

 

I generally tuck mine in my sock to avoid just this very occurance - one reason to prefer a slightly higher cuff and the softness and warmth of Merino in the Winter months.

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cyclisto | 7 years ago
2 likes

Ok I admit, I read this article just for the comments!

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nowasps | 7 years ago
0 likes

-

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nowasps | 7 years ago
1 like

Zoran Jurkovic, now aged 41? How many years did he age?

 

"If you are caught in a thunderstorm while riding your bike, you should seek shelter  put in your ear buds immediately."

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brooksby | 7 years ago
1 like

Quote:

Opinion may be split...

- like his bl**dy penis!!!

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

So what happened to him. Did his penor explode?

 

Details come on enlightened

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lambylamby | 7 years ago
0 likes

The penis is mightier than the bolt.

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P3t3 | 7 years ago
7 likes

"Zoran Jurkovic, now aged 41, had been riding his bike to his work on a farm near Petrovci in 2007 when a storm closed in"

How have you managed to get this out so quickly?

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bohrhead | 7 years ago
4 likes

This can only mean his penis was dragging along the ground.

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STiG911 | 7 years ago
1 like

'Skimpy Headphone Lead Handles 1.21 Gigawatts' (Doesn't send rider Back to the Future)

Hmm.

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Steezysix | 7 years ago
2 likes

So... He survived, but did his penis!?

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Callum Nicklin | 7 years ago
5 likes

In stormy weather, I ALWAYS listen to my penis.

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CygnusX1 | 7 years ago
3 likes

He was dressed in work clothes, including rubber boots, and instead of earthing via his feet, the charge earthed through his penis.

 “We were shocked when we saw the man. He was sitting in the rain, with steam rising from him"

I'm pretty shocked by the mental image I now have. Cue lightning rod jokes...

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