The 32-year-old man was struck while recording a video on a pier in the Black Sea resort of Batumi
A Russian tourist has survived a lightning strike in the Black Sea resort city of Batumi in Georgia. The man, named as 32-year-old Pavel Smirnov, is reportedly in hospital preparing to undergo an emergency operation.
Smirnov was on vacation with his brother and friends when they gathered on a pier to enjoy the sunset on Wednesday evening.
In footage circulating online, Smirnov and another man are seen dancing, before he suddenly falls to the ground with his clothes on fire. Smirnov was reportedly rushed to a local hospital with burns to his stomach, back, and legs.
Doctors described it as “miracle” that Smirnov survived and did not receive the critical injuries typical of a powerful lightning strike.
His condition is stable and he is under the supervision of a cardiologist, RT was informed by the hospital.
“The prognosis [for the operation] is most favorable, and therefore we think that he will be discharged in the coming days,” doctors said.
Smirnov does not have insurance and will have to pay for the treatment himself, the hospital said.