Twenty-five years ago today, on June 27th, 1975, Lee Trevino played his usual excellent game in the prestigious Western Open Golf Championship in Chicago. Halfway through the round he sat down at the edge of a green beside a lake to wait for a heavy shower to pass. Suddenly, and without any warning, he was thrown into the air by a bolt of lightning.
The surge, it was deduced afterwards, had flashed off the surface of the lake, shot through the metal shaft of a golf club in Trevino's hand, passed up his arm, and then made its exit through the golfer's back. Happily, the injuries were not serious. Although one shoulder was badly burned and gave him pain for several years, Trevino and his golf were soon up to scratch again.
Lighting always seeks the easiest path as it make its way to Earth. To avoid being struck, therefore, it is very advisable to avoid proximity to any natural lightning conductor such as a tall isolated tree on an open space. It is safer in the open than under its spurious protection.
Likewise, one should avoid projecting oneself conspicuously above the surrounding landscape, by standing on a hilltop or in an open field, or fishing from a small boat. Indeed, for reasons clearly illustrated by the unfortunate experience of Lee Trevino, it is best to keep away from open water altogether.
It is also dangerous to stand near objects made of metal, such as tractors, motorbikes or metal gates, or to carry metallic objects like farm implements, garden tools, umbrellas or, as we have seen, golf clubs.
Even if an individual is not directly hit, it is dangerous if lightning strikes nearby. In such circumstances, large voltage differences are created on the ground as the current propagates outwards from the point of contact.
This can cause a momentary difference of several thousand volts between the two feet of a person standing in the vicinity, which in turn may result in a potentially fatal surge of electricity through the body. The wider apart the feet, the greater and more life-endangering will be the current. For the same reason we are advised not to lie flat on the ground when lightning threatens.
The safest course is to go to the lowest place available - a valley or a natural dip in the landscape - and keeping the feet together crouch as low as possible, adopting an almost foetal position with the hands upon the knees. Safest of all, of course, is to be inside a house, well away from the windows, or inside a motor car.