By NEWSDAY REPORTER Wednesday, September 8 2010

IN WHAT can only be described as a freak act of nature, 42-year-old La Horquetta resident Andre Weston received a jolt of electricity while he was using his computer at his home during heavy thundershowers yesterday.

Speaking outside the Adult Primary Care Facility at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope, Amanda Weston said her husband was resting comfortably after his ordeal.

She said that shortly before 2 pm, during a heavy thunderstorm, Weston was using the computer at their Heleconia Crescent, La Horquetta home, when lightning struck the meter box connected to the house.

It is believed that the electricity from the flash of lightning surged through the computer and shocked Weston, who collapsed on the floor. Weston’s father, who was home at the time, told Amanda her husband uttered the following brief sentence before he became mute. “Where the baby? Where the baby? The computer blow up. My foot hurting. My foot hurting.”

An ambulance arrived soon after and Weston was taken to the Arima Health Centre, where doctors performed an EKG (electrocardiogram — a trans-thoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over time) and took blood tests.

Mrs Weston said the doctor told her that Andre’s heart was in good condition and his vital signs were good. However, the doctor was unable to tell her why Andre had lost the ability to speak.

“I’m grateful things are not worse and that Andre is still alive because many people die after suffering such an electric shock. Plus the house didn’t burn down,” Mrs Weston said.

She was still however last night very worried over her husband’s inability to speak plus his limited mobility.

After spending much of the afternoon at the Arima Health Centre, Weston was transferred to the EWMSC at about 5 pm, where he had to wait for three hours before being examined by a doctor. Weston was kept overnight for observation and further examination.