The video of a young footballer went viral earlier this month after it showed him being struck by lightning during a training session, and it looked like he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Ivan Zaborovsky, a 16-year-old Russian goalkeeper, was warming up on the pitch for his team FC Znamya Truda when a flash of lightning hit the very spot he struck the ball on and sent him to the ground.
The keeper was taken to hospital, after having the front of his shirt burnt off, and was induced into a coma as medical professionals assessed the damage.
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Just three weeks later and he has returned to training. Speaking about the effects Zaborovsky told Reuters, "It was difficult to breathe, but that's about it," talking about the fact he didn't remember anything about the incident.
"It's getting better and better now. Things are back to normal."
In fact not only is he back in training but on Tuesday he signed a contract for the Russian third tier team's senior side, with coach Anton Basov saying, "Ivan is the goalkeeper on the regional team. He has good prospects."
Speaking at the time of the incident Zaborkovsky's girlfriend Yelena told Podyem media, "He regained consciousness but due to a strong painful shock he had to be put back into a coma.
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"He has a scar around his neck where the lightning hit his chain, and... his lung was damaged."
The young goalie didn't breathe for two whole minutes according to reports but was given a heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by his coaches.
Sister Karina summed it up best saying, ""Doctors say that he was born under a lucky star. I still can't comprehend it all."
Certainly if he's able to overcome being hit by lightning and not breathing for two minutes then he should find the professional, senior ranks of football pretty easy to deal with and he's got a bright future.
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Ivan will be hoping that the old adage is true and lightning doesn't strike twice!
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Russia
