STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Thomas Fahmy was only a few steps from his car and headed to a dentist appointment when a bolt of lightning turned an ordinary trip out of his Staten Island home into something he won’t soon forget.
Fahmy, a staffer for Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, was walking along Todt Avenue in Castleton Corners during severe thunderstorms last week when lightning struck near him. A home security camera captured the flash and Fahmy dropping to the ground.
Staten Island man struck by lightning while walking to a dentist appointment.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 1, 2026
Thomas Fahmy says he is grateful to be alive and went to church on Sunday to thank God for giving him another chance.
"Once the lightning bolt struck me, the initial sensations that I had throughout… pic.twitter.com/Ns11TGqB23
He was carrying an umbrella and remained conscious after the strike. Fahmy later described tingling, numbness, burning and intense pain through his body, particularly in his feet.
Neighbor Hears Fahmy Calling for Help
Fahmy was able to call out after he went down. Neighbor Stefanie Homan heard him and contacted emergency services, according to the New York Post.
He was taken to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, where doctors kept him overnight for observation.
Despite the jarring video and the pain Fahmy described, he was released the following day without burns or serious injuries being reported.
Where was Thomas Fahmy when lightning struck him?
Fahmy was on Todt Avenue in the Castleton Corners section of Staten Island. He had left home and was walking toward his vehicle to go to a dentist appointment.
- A security camera captured Fahmy being knocked down by the lightning strike.
- He remained conscious and spent the night at Staten Island University Hospital for observation.
- Fahmy works for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.
The incident happened as thunderstorms were moving across the borough. Published accounts have described it as occurring last week but have not provided a precise date.
Malliotakis Reacts After Staffer Survives Strike
Fahmy’s job brought the unusual story into the political world as well.
He works for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the Republican congresswoman whose district includes Staten Island and part of Brooklyn. Malliotakis publicly acknowledged what happened and praised Fahmy and those who came to his aid.
The experience also changed Fahmy’s weekend plans a little.
After surviving something most people will never experience, he bought a Mega Millions ticket Saturday. Lightning may have found him, but the jackpot didn’t — the ticket wasn’t a winner.
Did Thomas Fahmy suffer serious injuries?
No serious injuries were reported. He experienced considerable pain and unusual sensations after the strike, but doctors found no apparent burns, and he was released after an overnight hospital stay.
A Sunday Trip to Church After a Very Lucky Escape
The lottery ticket provided some humor after a frightening experience, but Fahmy also marked his survival more seriously.
On Sunday, he went to church.
“I went to church to say thank you God,” Fahmy told ABC7 New York.
For Fahmy, simply being able to make that trip mattered more than hitting a jackpot.
Did Fahmy win after buying a Mega Millions ticket?
No. Fahmy bought a Mega Millions ticket after surviving the lightning strike, but it wasn’t a winner. Considering what happened on Todt Avenue, he had already beaten much longer odds that week.
