“Sparky, Duracell, Powder or Lightning McQueen are just the new nicknames I’ve acquired from my friends,” is what a laughing Kelby Parker said.
Kelby is lucky to be alive after he was hit by lighting on the 21 of December, just days before Christmas.
“There was an electrical storm that night and my wife Fiona and I went out to take the cover of the gazebo off as it might get damaged. After placing the cover under the lapa, I took a few steps then bam,” he said.
His wife Fiona said she heard a loud noise which left her ears ringing then next moment she saw her husband fall like a pillar face first onto the floor.
“I was less than a metre away from my husband. I am a level headed person so the second I saw him on the floor I rushed over, turn him over and took a look at him. I noticed his eyes had rolled back and his tongue was sticking out as he had bitten it,”she said.
Fiona noticed that blood was not coming out from the bite mark on his tongue and realized his heart had stopped.
She started doing CPRon Kelby immediately and after four repetition managed to bring him back.
“As he lay there I just thought of bringing him back. This February will be our 20 anniversary and we have been talking about what to do. I just couldn’t lose him. His body was puffy and swollen and near his ankles there were white spider-web like marks. I learned CPR five years ago and I’ve never done it on an actual person,” said Fiona.
After Kelby lifted his hand to indicate he was fine it started hailing.
Fiona called their daughter who was inside the house to come and help and together they pulled Kelby underneath the lapa for shelter.
They were there for thirty minutes until they called a neighbour to help bring Kelby inside the house.
As the emergency services had not arrived at the time, Fiona together with Kelby’s brother rushed to Pinehaven hospital.
“At the hospital they ran some tests and found there was 121 enzymes around the heart which is high. This put the doctors on alert as this meant he could go into cardiac arrest. A second test revealed that his enzymes around the heart had increased to 140 and doctors became extremely worried,” said Fiona.
However, after two days in intensive care, the number of enzymes gradually dropped.
“All I remember is putting the gazebo cover under the lapa and turning around, I vaguely remember a spasming sensation but after that I don’t remember anything. My next memory is being in the hospital with tubes and oxygen and all,” said Kelby.
Fiona said they want to alert the public about the dangers of lightning.
“We just want to warn others that it could happen. When it’s lightning outside, bring your children in. Close your windows. All those precautions we always hear about are there to protect us. Don’t take chances, respect mother nature” said the pair.
“Now I can say I brought you into this world and I can take you out” joked Fiona.
Kelby said this was a Christmas miracle and now that he’s been given a second chance at life, he will make the most of it.
“I am now more appreciative of things and the way look at my wife and children is different. The small stuff doesn’t make me angry anymore,” he said.
Although Kelby still has a little trouble walking, his doctors have given him a clean bill of health.
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 414 6709.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
