'It was a miracle that I survived' teen says

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Story Published: Jun 5, 2009 at 4:37 PM PST

By Susan Harding KATU News and KATU.com Staff

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PORTLAND, Ore. - A 14-year-old Central Oregon boy who was struck by lightning this week spoke to the media on Friday, saying the only real pain he feels right now is from the IVs in his arms.

"It was a miracle that I survived," said Austin Melton, who is making an amazing recovery at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, where he was transferred on Wednesday after getting hit by lightning in the parking lot at La Pine High School as a violent storm swept through the area.

The lightning bolt hit the right side of Melton's face, leaving a slight burn mark, and then exited through his ankle. He said his arms are a little sore but overall he feels really good and the burns and blisters don't even hurt very much.

Melton said he can't remember getting hit by the bolt of lightning but he does remember leaving a basketball game at the high school, noticing that the lights suddenly went out in the gym and that lightning flashed outside.

"Someone said 'that's scary' and I was like 'not really - what's the worst that's going to happen, I'm going to get struck by lightning?' And look what happened," he said, laughing.

After blacking out and waking up in the hospital, friends told Melton what they witnessed.

"They saw it hit me somewhere in this area," Melton said, motioning to the right side of his face. "Then they saw me just hit the ground. And they saw my feet shaking and they said that I was having like a seizure."

Melton's father held up the sweatshirt his son was wearing when the lightning hit. The zipper was scorched and the material was in tatters.

"When I saw it, I was just like blown away," Melton said. "I can't believe I survived that."

As for the burns on his feet, legs, chest and the side of his face, Melton said they barely hurt.

"The funny thing is, the only thing that really hurts is where I got my IVs," he said. "Other than that, I feel almost fine."

And as for his hair, Melton said he was glad it was only singed a bit on the side. He's been growing his hair out for two years to donate to Locks of Love.

Melton was released from the hospital Friday afternoon and was on his way back home to La Pine.

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