A Staten Island man walking to a dentist appointment was struck by lightning during a storm, survived with serious but non-fatal injuries, and the incident was captured on a doorbell camera.
Thomas Fahmy, a Republican congressional staffer, was heading to a dentist appointment when a sudden lightning strike hit nearby and knocked him to the ground. The event happened during a storm in the Castleton Corners neighborhood and was recorded on a doorbell camera, providing a vivid account of how quickly danger can arrive. Eyewitness video shows Fahmy walking past a white picket fence before the flash and the thunderclap.
After the strike Fahmy fell forward and remained on the pavement for a few moments before getting up dazed. The footage captures him regaining his footing slowly, clearly disoriented and in pain as he steadied himself. He then began to cry out for help, which drew the attention of a neighbor who came to his aid.
The neighbor, Stefanie Homan, heard Fahmy yelling and opened her door, watching him walk into her yard with his clothing damp from the fall. Fahmy asked, “Can I come in please?” and Homan replied, “Yes,” Homan said. “Please, come, come. Are you okay? I’m calling an ambulance for you.”
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2094918269245558996
A New York GOP congressional staffer miraculously survived a freak lightning strike while he was walking to his dentist appointment on Staten Island, chilling footage showed.
Thomas Fahmy, a congressional staffer for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), was struck by the thunderous lightning as he strolled along Todt Avenue near Windsor Road in the Castleton Corners neighborhood during Thursday’s storms.
Fahmy, who had been carrying an umbrella, collapsed to the ground from the violent jolt, according to video obtained by WNBC.
“I was nearly 15, 20 feet away from my car when I was struck by lightning,” Fahmy told the outlet.
“It was a very intense burning sensation, tingling, numbness, pain. Severe pain in both of my feet,” he said about the near-death experience.
Fahmy remained on the ground in the residential neighborhood for a few moments before he cried out for help.
Emergency services took Fahmy to Staten Island University Hospital, where medical staff treated him and made sure he was stable. Doctors reported no visible burns on his body despite the intense sensations he described in his feet, which can happen when lightning passes through clothing or moisture. Fahmy later said he attended church to give thanks after surviving the incident.
As a staffer for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Fahmy’s survival drew public attention and a statement of relief from the congresswoman. “We are happy, grateful, and relieved that Thomas, a valued member of our Staten Island office, is alive and well after being struck by lightning last week,” she said in a statement. “We appreciate the good Samaritan and medical staff at Staten Island University Hospital who helped him get emergency care.”
The experience left Fahmy shaken but with a sense of humor; he reportedly bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket after the strike. Neighbors and onlookers called the response swift and humane, praising the resident who opened her door and the medical staff who assessed him at the hospital. The incident is a reminder that quick civilian action plus professional emergency care can make a big difference.
From a Republican perspective, the episode highlights community and compassion in action, with a constituent-facing office staffer spared a worse outcome thanks to prompt help. The video itself serves as both a startling visual record and a prompt about storm safety for anyone caught outside in sudden severe weather. Thomas Fahmy’s survival is an unusual story of bad luck turned into a narrow escape, and it underscores the unpredictability of nature and the value of readiness and neighborly care.
