Ever wonder what the odds are of getting struck by lightning and winning the lottery?
No one quite understands the term "striking it lucky" better than 16-year-old BreAnna Helsel.
The Michigan teen survived being struck by lightning and went on to win $20 in the lottery the next day.
Helsel was at her home in Blanchard, about 50 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, watching thunderstorms roll by on June 6 when she noticed rain entering an open kitchen window.
"She went to close the window and the lightning came through and hit her," her mother, Linda Johnson, told The Daily News of Greenville. "We think it must have hit the house or something."
Helsel struggled to describe the sensation she felt as the electricity passed through her body.
"It felt like when your foot falls asleep," she said.
Helsel said she saw the electricity shoot out of her fingers and into the overhead lights, immediately knocking out the house's power.
At first, the teenager didn't want to be checked out at a hospital, but when she started complaining about a tingling sensation in her arm, she and her mother drove through the rain to get to Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital in Lakeview.
Helsel was checked out and the only signs of the lightning strike were some darkened fingertips on her right hand and a shaking arm from damaged muscles that will require some therapy. A full recovery is expected.
"Everyone said I'm really lucky," she said.
Hospital employees suggested that Helsel was on such a lucky streak, she should immediately play the lottery. She's too young, so her mother went out the next day and bought a Michigan lottery ticket for her.
"And we won $20," Johnson said, laughing. "What a way to start the summer."
My husband and I were talking about this last night. About what makes people play who don't usually and they win it big. I've read about one winner who went to a gas station where they have coupons? Anyway, while standing in line to pay, he happened to glance at the sign that displayed the JP of I believe 170M. He thought what the heck and bought one ticket...he won it all! Another who also rarely played had a thought just pop into his head to play his grandkids birthdays and yes.....he won it all also! What do you think of the idea of "devine intervention"? I'm still waiting for that "nudge" from something to make me a winner as well . lol
Where I live there's a much greater chance of being struck by lightning than winning a jackpot. In fact, I should shut down right now, although I'm running my laptop on the battery and my cables are connected to a surge protector. Oh no....
(just kidding)
BTW, I definitely believe in Divine Intervention. I just think God is a little busy this week in Iowa, Kansas and waching over our troops in Iraq to be playing around with the lottery picks.
maybe i am misreading this but $20 - like twenty bucks? ONLY for nearly being killed .. i'm not sure if this is exactly newsworthy - maybe $2K, $20K or more .. oh well, i rather have a pigeon crap on me and then go on to win $20
Quote: Originally posted by Sandra Dee on Jun 14, 2008
maybe i am misreading this but $20 - like twenty bucks? ONLY for nearly being killed .. i'm not sure if this is exactly newsworthy - maybe $2K, $20K or more .. oh well, i rather have a pigeon crap on me and then go on to win $20
I read the newspaper article about this and also thought that the lottery winning of $20 is not that big of a deal compared with being struck by lightening.
I was wondering if it was a misprint and maybe it was $20 million dollars, but apparently it is only $20.........
Quote: Originally posted by duckman on Jun 14, 2008
I read the newspaper article about this and also thought that the lottery winning of $20 is not that big of a deal compared with being struck by lightening.
I was wondering if it was a misprint and maybe it was $20 million dollars, but apparently it is only $20.........
When I started reading it I thought it was gonna be about the person that won the MegaMillions jackpot yesterday in Michigan since yesterday was friday the 13th.I figured that they was struck by lightning and then won the jackpot.But $20 isn't anything to brag about.Of course now the girl is probably hooked on lottery tickets and will blow her allowance every week on the lottery.
If I thought that getting struck by lightning would guarentee that I would win a huge jackpot,I'd stand out in the middle of a golf course with a golf club held in the air during a thunderstorm.
Quote: Originally posted by MaddMike51 on Jun 14, 2008
When I started reading it I thought it was gonna be about the person that won the MegaMillions jackpot yesterday in Michigan since yesterday was friday the 13th.I figured that they was struck by lightning and then won the jackpot.But $20 isn't anything to brag about.Of course now the girl is probably hooked on lottery tickets and will blow her allowance every week on the lottery.
If I thought that getting struck by lightning would guarentee that I would win a huge jackpot,I'd stand out in the middle of a golf course with a golf club held in the air during a thunderstorm.
Getting struck by lighting and then winning the MegaMillions jackpot would have made a more interesting story but people have to go with what they have. The previous MegaMillions jackpot winner was in Ohio and he/she/they haven't been heard from yet, they might have had an even more interesting story but don't want it known. It seems like they are waiting for everyone to forget that there ever was a jackpot winner in Ohio before making their claim.
Im with u on this 1 RJOH....That would have been a great story if she would have gave her mother the winning numbers after the lighting accident...I have a real crazy story too about lighting....good thang I had cat like reflexes...One day I was running along side of my grandmas house (I was bout 13 at the time )it was lighting but not heavy....I happened to look up at the right time....Soon as I looked up a bolt came all the way down I actually saw a bolt of ligting come down in front of me all the way towards the middle part of my body...I stopped running just in time....Its something that ill never forget...Scared the sh!t out of me....Now if I can only hit the Lottery....
I though you had to be 18 years old to buy a lottery tickets in all states... something in the story doesn't add up. you got to be at least 18 in all states to buy cigs...
Quote: Originally posted by JordanT1021 on Jun 14, 2008
I though you had to be 18 years old to buy a lottery tickets in all states... something in the story doesn't add up. you got to be at least 18 in all states to buy cigs...
Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Jun 15, 2008
Her and her parents probably think otherwise. She was lucky that she didn't die.
She indeed was lucky. Imagine all that voltage running through your body!!! Winning $20.00 was just icing on the cake. GoD Bless her and maybe that lighting strike gave her some new psychic powers.
Getting struck by lighting and then winning the MegaMillions jackpot would have made a more interesting story but people have to go with what they have. The previous MegaMillions jackpot winner was in Ohio and he/she/they haven't been heard from yet, they might have had an even more interesting story but don't want it known. It seems like they are waiting for everyone to forget that there ever was a jackpot winner in Ohio before making their claim.
I was going to ask about that winner in Ohio. I have not read a thing about it since they announced the winner was in Amelia Ohio. Even if they didn't want to be known, doesn't the lottery have to at least post that the winner has stepped forward through their lawyer or something just so the public knows? I haven't even heard that at all. Did anyone even claim it yet period?
Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Jun 15, 2008
Her and her parents probably think otherwise. She was lucky that she didn't die.
You are right. Sorry for sounding mean. I just don't think of being struck by lightning as being "lucky". But surviving it is. God bless her. And I do dread going to the ER with anyone in my family as we always get stuck with a bill for about $300. That is when you do need the lotto winnings!!!
Quote: Originally posted by JordanT1021 on Jun 14, 2008
I though you had to be 18 years old to buy a lottery tickets in all states... something in the story doesn't add up. you got to be at least 18 in all states to buy cigs...
I saw that too and thought it was going to be a bad luck story about a 16-year-old being struck by lightning, buying a winning $20 scratch-off the next day, the lottery refusing to pay her because she was underage, and the store losing their license for selling her the ticket.
Quote: Originally posted by Lotto*Love on Jun 15, 2008
I was going to ask about that winner in Ohio. I have not read a thing about it since they announced the winner was in Amelia Ohio. Even if they didn't want to be known, doesn't the lottery have to at least post that the winner has stepped forward through their lawyer or something just so the public knows? I haven't even heard that at all. Did anyone even claim it yet period?
Somebody called the Ohio lottery claiming they had the winning ticket and inquired about setting up a blind trust. I've read where more people get struck by lightning than win MM jackpots but never read the odds on people waiting to validate their ticket.
Quote: Originally posted by MaddMike51 on Jun 14, 2008
When I started reading it I thought it was gonna be about the person that won the MegaMillions jackpot yesterday in Michigan since yesterday was friday the 13th.I figured that they was struck by lightning and then won the jackpot.But $20 isn't anything to brag about.Of course now the girl is probably hooked on lottery tickets and will blow her allowance every week on the lottery.
If I thought that getting struck by lightning would guarentee that I would win a huge jackpot,I'd stand out in the middle of a golf course with a golf club held in the air during a thunderstorm.
If I thought that getting struck by lightning would guarentee that I would win a huge jackpot,I'd stand out in the middle of a golf course with a golf club held in the air during a thunderstorm.
Thats funny, but almost worth trying!
And I live near Seattle too.
And you know it rains here ALOT!! Now where did I put those golf clubs?
Children can be good luck charms lol. I once walked by a scratch ticket machine at my store carrying my 1 year old son. I asked "which one should mommy get?" He proceeded to point to the $1.oo sticket featuring a cow. So I bought it and scratched it in the car...lo and behold, I won $10.00! Most I've ever won sadly, but I won!! So I guess take your baby with you, or rub some passing childs head before making your pick. Thank god they come equipt w/luck. We don't want people pushing their kids out into thunderstorms saying "mommy needs a new pair of shoes!!!"
Quote: Originally posted by Lotto*Love on Jun 14, 2008
My husband and I were talking about this last night. About what makes people play who don't usually and they win it big. I've read about one winner who went to a gas station where they have coupons? Anyway, while standing in line to pay, he happened to glance at the sign that displayed the JP of I believe 170M. He thought what the heck and bought one ticket...he won it all! Another who also rarely played had a thought just pop into his head to play his grandkids birthdays and yes.....he won it all also! What do you think of the idea of "devine intervention"? I'm still waiting for that "nudge" from something to make me a winner as well . lol
lotto love your story about the guy who the thought pop in his head to play his grandkids birthdays and won? When was this? was that long ago or recently and in which state...
great girl...congratulations to her, it will be nice if she had won big because then we could call her the Messiah...
When i was about 13 i climb my house roof during a thunderstorm and started dancing thinking it was cool and that i will try it again...When i heard the thunder is when i remember about lightening and i jump right into the ground...Never tried it again....
Quote: Originally posted by pumpi76 on Jul 20, 2008
lotto love your story about the guy who the thought pop in his head to play his grandkids birthdays and won? When was this? was that long ago or recently and in which state...
great girl...congratulations to her, it will be nice if she had won big because then we could call her the Messiah...
When i was about 13 i climb my house roof during a thunderstorm and started dancing thinking it was cool and that i will try it again...When i heard the thunder is when i remember about lightening and i jump right into the ground...Never tried it again....
my bad we will not call her the messiah we will call her the messenger...
If this is true this girl is a record holder...You can indeed call her a messenger...Most of us talk but none of us have been on a thunder storm with a lot of lightening...
I sometimes forget the simple things of life...This girl broke the biggest record and that is been given a second chance...just have to know this girl core and if she is good she is a messenger...This is greater than winning Powerball...And to think that there is no life in the known universe only on this planet so far, and to think that there are 1 million sperms and possible girlfriends/boyfriends and different times they had sex and that masturbation exist...Just to think all that...
Quote: Originally posted by pumpi76 on Jul 20, 2008
lotto love your story about the guy who the thought pop in his head to play his grandkids birthdays and won? When was this? was that long ago or recently and in which state...
great girl...congratulations to her, it will be nice if she had won big because then we could call her the Messiah...
When i was about 13 i climb my house roof during a thunderstorm and started dancing thinking it was cool and that i will try it again...When i heard the thunder is when i remember about lightening and i jump right into the ground...Never tried it again....
Ya, he won in like Feb this year from a SMALL town called Portal in Georgia...pop 600! Theres ALOT of articles you can read on him. I can't seem to copy and paste with my firefox, you'll have to google this info:
Portal Georgia man wins 270 million lottery.......his name is Robert. I thought he really did deserve the $$$. Worked really hard with metal? for like 25 years..........and had been working since he was like 16. The story went he didn't play the lottery, but I guess he had seen or heard somewhere that the jackpot was really up there so he just decided to play his grandkids birthDATES. On his way home from work, he was going to stop at a store to play the numbers, but a strong storm had shut down the lottery machine at that store. So he drove home and asked his wife if she would go down to their corner store and play the numbers. He had chosen 7,12,13,19,22 (all dates they were born) BUT his other grandchild was born on the 30th, but for some reason he choose the number 10 instead for the mega ball...................good he did! The next day his daughter called him early and asked if he had played the numbers he said he was going to play.......LUCKY DUCKY!!!!!!!!
Myth #1: Odds of being struck by lightning are better than the odds of winning a lottery.
This myth was mathematically debunked by Iowa Lottery Commissioner Ed Stanek (who has a doctorate in physics) in an October 1997 issue of Public Gaming International magazine.
Statistics gathered by NASPL as well indicate that in one year alone (1996) 1,136 people won a million dollars or more and an additional 4,520 won $100,000 or more by playing North American lotteries. By contrast, 91 people were killed by lightning during that same year.
Also, what kind of a second prize does a lightning strike offer? Lottery players can win without actually hitting the jackpot, with lesser payouts for picking some of the correct numbers.
Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Jul 23, 2008
I believe her mom bought her a ticket.
The way I see it is if her mom bought the ticket, then her mom won. If someone posts a hot number on here and I play it and it comes out, does that mean that person won or me??? If she was at the store and she asked her mom to buy a scratch off ticket for her isn't that the same as someone buying cigarettes or alcohol for a minor, illegal???
My husband and I were talking about this last night. About what makes people play who don't usually and they win it big. I've read about one winner who went to a gas station where they have coupons? Anyway, while standing in line to pay, he happened to glance at the sign that displayed the JP of I believe 170M. He thought what the heck and bought one ticket...he won it all! Another who also rarely played had a thought just pop into his head to play his grandkids birthdays and yes.....he won it all also! What do you think of the idea of "devine intervention"? I'm still waiting for that "nudge" from something to make me a winner as well . lol
Where I live there's a much greater chance of being struck by lightning than winning a jackpot. In fact, I should shut down right now, although I'm running my laptop on the battery and my cables are connected to a surge protector. Oh no....
BTW, I definitely believe in Divine Intervention. I just think God is a little busy this week in Iowa, Kansas and waching over our troops in Iraq to be playing around with the lottery picks.
maybe i am misreading this but $20 - like twenty bucks? ONLY for nearly being killed .. i'm not sure if this is exactly newsworthy - maybe $2K, $20K or more .. oh well, i rather have a pigeon crap on me and then go on to win $20
I read the newspaper article about this and also thought that the lottery winning of $20 is not that big of a deal compared with being struck by lightening.
I was wondering if it was a misprint and maybe it was $20 million dollars, but apparently it is only $20.........
When I started reading it I thought it was gonna be about the person that won the MegaMillions jackpot yesterday in Michigan since yesterday was friday the 13th.I figured that they was struck by lightning and then won the jackpot.But $20 isn't anything to brag about.Of course now the girl is probably hooked on lottery tickets and will blow her allowance every week on the lottery.
If I thought that getting struck by lightning would guarentee that I would win a huge jackpot,I'd stand out in the middle of a golf course with a golf club held in the air during a thunderstorm.
Getting struck by lighting and then winning the MegaMillions jackpot would have made a more interesting story but people have to go with what they have. The previous MegaMillions jackpot winner was in Ohio and he/she/they haven't been heard from yet, they might have had an even more interesting story but don't want it known. It seems like they are waiting for everyone to forget that there ever was a jackpot winner in Ohio before making their claim.
Im with u on this 1 RJOH....That would have been a great story if she would have gave her mother the winning numbers after the lighting accident...I have a real crazy story too about lighting....good thang I had cat like reflexes...One day I was running along side of my grandmas house (I was bout 13 at the time )it was lighting but not heavy....I happened to look up at the right time....Soon as I looked up a bolt came all the way down I actually saw a bolt of ligting come down in front of me all the way towards the middle part of my body...I stopped running just in time....Its something that ill never forget...Scared the sh!t out of me....Now if I can only hit the Lottery....
man $20 , i think ill skip a lighting strike, and remain poor.
I though you had to be 18 years old to buy a lottery tickets in all states... something in the story doesn't add up. you got to be at least 18 in all states to buy cigs...
never mind. her mom bought her the ticket...
she should let me mom play a set of powerball numbers. her age, her mom's age, date the lightning strike happened, time checked in a hospital, etc..
I won $40 in a scratch off ticket last week. It was my last dollar.
Yippee!!! It made my day. I should have called the newspaper.
Wait a minute. She got struck by lightning. Spent hours in the emergency room and then won a skimpy 20 bucks. That's not so lucky.
Her and her parents probably think otherwise. She was lucky that she didn't die.
She indeed was lucky. Imagine all that voltage running through your body!!! Winning $20.00 was just icing on the cake. GoD Bless her and maybe that lighting strike gave her some new psychic powers.
I was going to ask about that winner in Ohio. I have not read a thing about it since they announced the winner was in Amelia Ohio. Even if they didn't want to be known, doesn't the lottery have to at least post that the winner has stepped forward through their lawyer or something just so the public knows? I haven't even heard that at all. Did anyone even claim it yet period?
You are right. Sorry for sounding mean. I just don't think of being struck by lightning as being "lucky". But surviving it is. God bless her. And I do dread going to the ER with anyone in my family as we always get stuck with a bill for about $300. That is when you do need the lotto winnings!!!
She was lucky she wasn't killed.
I saw that too and thought it was going to be a bad luck story about a 16-year-old being struck by lightning, buying a winning $20 scratch-off the next day, the lottery refusing to pay her because she was underage, and the store losing their license for selling her the ticket.
Somebody called the Ohio lottery claiming they had the winning ticket and inquired about setting up a blind trust. I've read where more people get struck by lightning than win MM jackpots but never read the odds on people waiting to validate their ticket.
Yeah,
Isn't she a bit young to be playing to lottery?
Hello,Good luck to everyone.
True story about PSYKO and if U-DO research>>>>>>PSYKO was struck 2!
I don't anyone to FEEL sorry for ME when I HIT>>>>>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
LOL........................(but, maby Todd will send me a congrat's) ???????????
PSYKOMO
If I thought that getting struck by lightning would guarentee that I would win a huge jackpot,I'd stand out in the middle of a golf course with a golf club held in the air during a thunderstorm.
Thats funny, but almost worth trying!
And I live near Seattle too.
And you know it rains here ALOT!! Now where did I put those golf clubs?
Children can be good luck charms lol. I once walked by a scratch ticket machine at my store carrying my 1 year old son. I asked "which one should mommy get?" He proceeded to point to the $1.oo sticket featuring a cow. So I bought it and scratched it in the car...lo and behold, I won $10.00! Most I've ever won sadly, but I won!! So I guess take your baby with you, or rub some passing childs head before making your pick. Thank god they come equipt w/luck. We don't want people pushing their kids out into thunderstorms saying "mommy needs a new pair of shoes!!!"
lotto love your story about the guy who the thought pop in his head to play his grandkids birthdays and won? When was this? was that long ago or recently and in which state...
great girl...congratulations to her, it will be nice if she had won big because then we could call her the Messiah...
When i was about 13 i climb my house roof during a thunderstorm and started dancing thinking it was cool and that i will try it again...When i heard the thunder is when i remember about lightening and i jump right into the ground...Never tried it again....
my bad we will not call her the messiah we will call her the messenger...
While that is an amazing story to read, the first thing that jumped out at me is she is sixteen.
Don't you have to be eighteen in Michigan to play the lottery?
If this is true this girl is a record holder...You can indeed call her a messenger...Most of us talk but none of us have been on a thunder storm with a lot of lightening...
I sometimes forget the simple things of life...This girl broke the biggest record and that is been given a second chance...just have to know this girl core and if she is good she is a messenger...This is greater than winning Powerball...And to think that there is no life in the known universe only on this planet so far, and to think that there are 1 million sperms and possible girlfriends/boyfriends and different times they had sex and that masturbation exist...Just to think all that...
I believe her mom bought her a ticket.
Ya, he won in like Feb this year from a SMALL town called Portal in Georgia...pop 600! Theres ALOT of articles you can read on him. I can't seem to copy and paste with my firefox, you'll have to google this info:
Portal Georgia man wins 270 million lottery.......his name is Robert. I thought he really did deserve the $$$. Worked really hard with metal? for like 25 years..........and had been working since he was like 16. The story went he didn't play the lottery, but I guess he had seen or heard somewhere that the jackpot was really up there so he just decided to play his grandkids birthDATES. On his way home from work, he was going to stop at a store to play the numbers, but a strong storm had shut down the lottery machine at that store. So he drove home and asked his wife if she would go down to their corner store and play the numbers. He had chosen 7,12,13,19,22 (all dates they were born) BUT his other grandchild was born on the 30th, but for some reason he choose the number 10 instead for the mega ball...................good he did! The next day his daughter called him early and asked if he had played the numbers he said he was going to play.......LUCKY DUCKY!!!!!!!!
Myth #1: Odds of being struck by lightning are better than the odds of winning a lottery.
This myth was mathematically debunked by Iowa Lottery Commissioner Ed Stanek (who has a doctorate in physics) in an October 1997 issue of Public Gaming International magazine.
Statistics gathered by NASPL as well indicate that in one year alone (1996) 1,136 people won a million dollars or more and an additional 4,520 won $100,000 or more by playing North American lotteries. By contrast, 91 people were killed by lightning during that same year.
Also, what kind of a second prize does a lightning strike offer? Lottery players can win without actually hitting the jackpot, with lesser payouts for picking some of the correct numbers.
The way I see it is if her mom bought the ticket, then her mom won. If someone posts a hot number on here and I play it and it comes out, does that mean that person won or me??? If she was at the store and she asked her mom to buy a scratch off ticket for her isn't that the same as someone buying cigarettes or alcohol for a minor, illegal???