Every year there are amazing stories of people who have survived severe weather events. People have been killed by storms causing them to crash or be crushed under falling trees or buildings. Hail can kill and lightning strikes humans and objects leaving them with burns, even sometimes killing. There are also deaths from drowning in floods, or from exposure to extreme hot or cold weather conditions.

Golfers are particularly prone to lightning strikes. Lee Trevino the golfer was famously struck during the Western Open in Chicago on 27 June 1975. He was sitting on the edge of a green by a lake waiting for a shower to pass. Suddenly lightning threw him into the air and he passed out. He was taken to hospital with burn marks on his shoulder where the lightning had left his body. It had flashed off the lake, shot through the metal shafts of his golf club and passed up his back. He was lucky not to be killed and returned to playing golf successfully.

People have also been struck by lightning passing through their umbrellas, windsurfers, telephones and even tea strainers.