TX: LIGHTNING SHOCKS TEEN PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

July 10, 2026 - 14:32

A 13-year-old boy in Texas received a severe electric shock from a lightning strike while he was playing video games inside his home. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the small town of White Settlement, near Fort Worth.

According to local authorities, the teenager was sitting on a couch with a controller in his hand when lightning hit the house. The bolt traveled through the electrical wiring and exited through the gaming console, sending a jolt directly into the boy's body. His mother, who was in the same room, heard a loud pop and saw a flash of light. She found her son on the floor, disoriented and in pain.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and took the teen to a nearby hospital. He was treated for burns on his hands and chest, where the electricity entered and exited his body. Doctors said he is expected to recover fully, though he will need follow-up care for nerve damage.

The family's home suffered significant electrical damage. Several outlets were blown out, and the gaming system was completely destroyed. Fire officials reminded the public that lightning can travel through a building's wiring and plumbing, making indoor activities like using electronics or taking a shower dangerous during a storm.

The boy's mother told reporters that her son is shaken but otherwise in good spirits. She said they are grateful the outcome was not worse. The National Weather Service confirms that lightning strikes kill about 20 people in the United States each year and injure hundreds more.