Florida lifeguard felt ‘pins and needles’ shoot down his side after lightning threw him off his feet — then did the last thing his coworkers expected
A few dark clouds or a drizzle may not seem dangerous, but lightning can strike with little warning. That became a frightening reality for Florida lifeguard Damien Curry during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. As reported by WESH News on July 4, 2026, Curry survived an indirect lightning strike while working at Ormond Beach. The powerful jolt left him in shock and caused painful sensations down one side of his body, yet what he chose to do immediately afterward surprised the people around him.
According to WYMT News, Curry explained that he had one hand on his patrol truck when lightning struck it, sending the electrical charge through his body. He recalled, "It just blows up, and I jump through the truck. I get lifted off my feet." The guard was violently shaking following the attack, adding that his entire left side felt tingling sensations. "It's like a bomb went off," he recounted. The first thing one would do is get out or call for help, but Curry chose differently. He drove the patrol truck along the shoreline and used the public address system to warn everyone to leave. He shouted, "Get off the beach, I just got struck by lightning, you're going to die."
Describing the moments after the strike, Curry said his entire left side felt like "pins and needles." He added that there had only been a drizzle before the lightning hit, making the experience even more unexpected. The guard was later taken to the hospital, and he was reportedly discharged the same day before 7 p.m. Even after leaving the hospital, he said the sounds of fireworks and later thunderstorms triggered panic attacks because they reminded him of the terrifying moment. Following the incident, the man urged everyone to take thunder and storm warnings seriously. He said, "If you see clouds and hear thunder, get off the beach, go inside — it's not worth your life."
The experience also made him rethink his future as a part-time lifeguard while continuing his landscaping business and campaign for Ormond Beach mayor. Curry also shared that his wife had written "No more lifeguarding" on the refrigerator, showing how deeply the frightening experience affected their family. It takes a true hero to put others' safety first, even in the middle of danger. In another incident, panic spread across Bondi Beach when gunfire broke out during a public event, sending families and visitors running for their lives. While many looked for cover, a lifeguard noticed a person struggling in the water and rushed to help. A witness later said, "It happened so fast," as people tried to escape. Another post praised the man, saying he "grabbed a board and went to rescue them," highlighting his courage during the unprecedented situation.