Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Electric Love: Teens Survive Lightning Strike By Holding Hands
They say young love can be electric, but this teen couple probably didn't expect such a literal interpretation.
While walking along a tree-lined street in Claremont on Thursday, teen couple Dylan and Lexie were reportedly hit by lightning and knocked to the ground. According to their doctor, Stefan Reynoso, the couple remarkably managed to survive the strike because they were holding hands. "The chance of getting hit by lightning is very uncommon and perhaps one in a million,"; Reynoso told CBS LA. "These two were lucky that they were holding hands. It helped to diffuse the electrical current that ran through their bodies."
A passerby confirmed that he saw a bolt of lightning hit the couple, likely a part of severe thunderstorms passing through the area. Reynoso suspects that lightning first hit Dylan's head and then travelled through the couple's hands and exited to the ground through Lexie's foot. "It was more of just kind of a shove, you know, and it felt kind of like I was getting hit over the head with metal or something," Dylan explains. The next moment, the couple found themselves on the ground. Lexie explains, "It was definitely weird. I kind of thought there was an earthquake."
Reynoso reports that the two teenagers are doing fine, and the couple now jokes that they share an "electric love." No word yet if there will be a rom-com based on their story.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist