An Irish college lecturer was perfectly placed to capture a hugely dramatic and terrifying video of her college ‘exploding’ after being struck by lightning.
Nicola Duffy was in the right place at the right time – or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on how you look at it – to film a torrential rain storm at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Dublin.
Ms Duffy began filming the storm as she was keen to prove to her mother that Dubliners have it just as tough, weather-wise, as those in Donegal.
She stood at a doorway and filmed the miserable weather for a few seconds. Suddenly, just when it seemed that the weather would stay the same for several hours, there was an almighty explosion and Ms Duffy was forced to retreat back inside.
She told the BBC: “I was going out to film the heavy rain for my mother who lives in Letterkenny in Donegal and is known as the weather woman in our family.
“She was telling me she had hailstones in Donegal and I said wait until you see the weather we’re having in Dublin.
“Then the lightning struck and I fell back, I thought something had fallen out of the sky.”
“I thought there may have been some damage but I checked and there was none. The college told me we’re protected against lightning.”
Ms Duffy is definitely of the opinion that she was in the right place at the right time and is hoping that her lucky streak continues.
She added: “I went out and bought a lottery ticket – here’s hoping I win.”
Take a look at the amazing video below