A 13-year-old boy in Cypress, Texas, near Houston, was shocked while playing computer games when a bolt of lightning struck his home on Tuesday, according to investigators. Vlad Skuridin was at his bedroom desk when he was thrown backwards after the current reached him through a metal part of the desk that his skin was touching. The incident highlights the rare but real danger of lightning travelling into homes through wiring during storms.

Investigators believe the lightning struck a nearby tree before entering the property on Cypress View Drive, passing through the home's wiring, igniting a small attic fire and reaching Vlad. He described screaming and fearing for his life, saying he did not think he would survive. His father called 911 and emergency responders assessed the teenager, though his injuries were minor and he did not require hospital treatment. Photos showed a hole in a wall with debris scattered on the ground.