A congressional aide for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) is recovering after being struck by lightning last week on Staten Island, an incident that was caught on surveillance video and left him briefly incapacitated just steps from his vehicle.
Thomas Fahmy, who has worked in Malliotakis’s district office since 2022, told NBC News that he was walking along Todt Hill when the bolt hit him roughly 15 to 25 feet from his car. The sudden jolt sent him collapsing to the ground, and he described the sensation as an intense, burning shock that left him tingling and in severe pain in both feet.
Despite the severity of the strike, Fahmy remained conscious and managed to get up and walk toward a nearby house for help. Stephanie Homan, a resident who lives in the area, said she heard his cries for assistance and rushed to the door. “I heard, ‘help me, help me,’ so I ran to my door and saw him on the ground,” she recounted.
Emergency responders took Fahmy to Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, where he was monitored overnight. Remarkably, he did not sustain burns or other major injuries and was released the following day.
Malliotakis expressed relief at her staffer’s recovery in a statement Monday, thanking the quick-acting neighbor and the medical team. “We are grateful that Thomas, a member of my congressional staff is alive and well after being struck by lightning last week,” she said. “I thank the good samaritan who ran to his aid and the medical staff at Staten Island University Hospital who treated him.”
Fahmy, who described himself as religious, said the close call has shifted his outlook on life. “Appreciate life, smile and breathe fresh air once in a while and don’t let life overwhelm you,” he advised.
The incident comes amid a busy stretch for congressional staffers, as lawmakers juggle district work and legislative duties. Malliotakis, a Republican representing parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island, has been vocal on issues ranging from New York’s climate policies to national security matters, including recent debates over military action abroad.
Lightning strikes are rare but often fatal; according to the National Weather Service, about 20 people die each year in the United States from such incidents. Fahmy’s survival has been called miraculous by those who know him.
He is expected to return to work soon, though he acknowledged the experience has given him a renewed sense of gratitude.
