Latest news with #YassinKhalifa
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Teen Survives Being Struck by Lightning in Central Park, but Admits One Decision He Made 'Wasn't the Best Idea'
A New York City teenager was struck by lightning in Central Park on June 19 Yassin Khalifa was enjoying a picnic with friends when the storm started, and he suggested they wait the rain out under a tree 'Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' Khalifa saidA teenager is speaking out after surviving a lightning strike in New York City. Yassin Khalifa, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, was struck by lightning while spending time in Central Park on Thursday, June 19, according to WABC-TV New York and The New York Times. Though he fell unconscious for a few minutes, he only sustained second-degree burns and is expected to make a full recovery. After enjoying a picnic with his friends near the East Meadow, a severe thunderstorm set in, according to WABC. Khalifa told the outlet that he decided to ride out the storm under a tree, which he admitted "might not have been the best idea." The bolt of lightning struck the tree he was leaning on around 3:40 p.m., the New York Post reported, and Khalifa lost consciousness for a short time after the strike. By the time an ambulance arrived to take him to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, though, Khalifa was awake and alert. Additionally, Fox 5 New York reported that according to officials, the teen was also burned on impact as he was wearing a metal chain. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened," Khalifa told WABC-TV. "So I'm pretty happy about that." In the case of lightning strikes, one in ten people die, The New York Times reported in 2017, though it remains one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. The thunderstorm in Manhattan was part of a string of severe weather along the East Coast on June 19, affecting parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Read the original article on People
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Teen hit by lightning in Central Park says he couldn't move, talk after strike
Teen struck by lightning in Central Park speaks out Teen struck by lightning in Central Park speaks out Teen struck by lightning in Central Park speaks out A teenager who was struck by lightning in Central Park is recounting the terrifying and rare strike. He spoke exclusively to CBS News New York's Ali Bauman. "I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second" Yassin Khalifa can't remember the moment he was struck by lightning, but he can still feel the pain. "No one actually thinks that they're gonna get hit by lightning," he said. The 15-year-old was picnicking in Central Park with friends Thursday afternoon when a fast-moving storm rolled in. "So I suggest to my friends we should go hang by a tree for a second, and I lean up against the tree. Five seconds later, I am on the floor," he said. A teen boy was struck by lightning in Central Park on June 19, 2025. CBS News New York The lightning knocked him unconscious. "I can see, but I can't talk. I can't move. So I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second until I get into the ambulance and I feel everyone trying to shake me," Yassin said. He was hospitalized with second-degree burns covering his torso and legs. Yassin's sister, Reem Khalifa, and his mother, Khalida Khalifa, rushed to his side. "He was in pretty bad shape at first and in a lot of pain," Reem said. "I was so scared to lose him because it was looking very, very bad," Khalida Khalifa said. "We never learned about lightning" Standing underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning strike deaths, according to the National Weather Service. But the Khalifa siblings say as city kids, they had no idea. "We learned about fire drills. We learned about lockdown drills. We know how to escape an active shooter in our schools, shelter in place. We never learned about lightning," Reem said. The odds of being struck by lightning are less than 1 in 1 million. Siblings Reem Khalifa (left) and Yassin Khalifa (right) Photo provided Reem says Yassin's survival brings a new appreciation for her younger brother. "We were beefing about, like, $10 this week, and that's why I've been annoyed at him, but that's something so simple. It means nothing in hindsight of everything," she said. But even lightning can't strike down the brother-sister dynamic. "I'm kind of mad, though, because his curls stayed intact and mine don't, and I haven't been electrocuted," Reem said. The family hopes Yassin can leave the hospital this weekend.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Boy struck by lightning in New York City's Central Park says he feels lucky
NEW YORK — A 15-year-old boy says he feels 'pretty lucky' after being struck by lightning in Central Park on Thursday when a round of thunderstorms swept through New York City. Yassin Khalifa, a high school sophomore, told WABC-TV he was in the park with friends enjoying a picnic when the storm suddenly rolled in.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Boy struck by lightning in New York City's Central Park says he feels lucky
Central Park and buildings in midtown Manhattan are seen from the Rainbow Room, New York City's landmark restaurant atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) NEW YORK — A 15-year-old boy says he feels 'pretty lucky' after being struck by lightning in Central Park on Thursday when a round of thunderstorms swept through New York City. Yassin Khalifa, a high school sophomore, told WABC-TV he was in the park with friends enjoying a picnic when the storm suddenly rolled in. 'I leaned up against a tree, and I told them, 'Oh, guys, let's ride out the storm,' which in hindsight might not have been the best idea,' Khalifa said. Khalifa said said he was knocked unconscious for several minutes. Crystal Mateo, 17, told the New York Times she witnessed the scene and saw Khalifa's friends frantically calling for help and trying to revive him. 'It was scary,' she said. 'I was crying.' Khalifa told WABC he was conscious when he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for burns on his neck and leg. Khalifa said he's expected to make a full recovery. 'Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened. So I'm like, not losing any sort of motor function,' Khalifa said. 'So I'm pretty happy about that.' Lightning kills around 30 people a year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Strikes, though, are usually not fatal. About 90 percent of people injured by a lightning bolt survive. The Associated Press
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Boy struck by lightning in New York City's Central Park says he feels lucky
NEW YORK (AP) — A 15-year-old boy says he feels 'pretty lucky' after being struck by lightning in Central Park on Thursday when a round of thunderstorms swept through New York City. Yassin Khalifa, a high school sophomore, told WABC-TV he was in the park with friends enjoying a picnic when the storm suddenly rolled in. 'I leaned up against a tree, and I told them, 'Oh, guys, let's ride out the storm,' which in hindsight might not have been the best idea,' Khalifa said. Khalifa said said he was knocked unconscious for several minutes. Crystal Mateo, 17, told the New York Times she witnessed the scene and saw Khalifa's friends frantically calling for help and trying to revive him. 'It was scary,' she said. 'I was crying.' Khalifa told WABC he was conscious when he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for burns on his neck and leg. Khalifa said he's expected to make a full recovery. 'Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened. So I'm like, not losing any sort of motor function,' Khalifa said. 'So I'm pretty happy about that.' Lightning kills around 30 people a year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Strikes, though, are usually not fatal. About 90 percent of people injured by a lightning bolt survive.
