It's a type of death that is apparently so rare it has become a metaphor for extremely bad luck.
A lightning strike hit Venice beach in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, killing a man in his 20s, leaving another in a critical condition and injuring a dozen more. The US national weather service confirmed that at least four lightning strikes hit the area about 2.20pm, causing two small fires and downing power lines.
According to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it was the 15th death by lightning strike in the US this year. However, it represents a steady decrease year-on-year, possibly due to the fall in the numbers of people working outdoors and improvements in health and safety. In 2006, the overall number for the year was 48 and stood at 35 by this time in July.
