In summer 2006, while on vacation in Colorado, high school friends Zach and Ernie went on a hike in the mountains. As they ascended the 13,000-foot peak, the boys reveled in the bright, sunny day.

"I was proud of myself for making it to the top. It's a hard climb," Zach says. "We were jumping around, excited about the hike. We were just enjoying the view."

As they were about to start their descent, storm clouds quickly rolled in. Before they knew what had happened, both boys were knocked to the ground. "I just heard a really large crash. My legs went out from under me and my whole body just cringed," Ernie says.

They'd been struck by lightning. The bolt—with an estimated 30 million volts of electricity—struck Zach in the back of the head, traveled the length of his body, came out his left foot, and then hit Ernie.

"I just felt a wave of energy going down my body and it was real hot. I fell straight to the ground," Ernie says. "When I fell to the ground, you know, I was just kind of in a panic. I didn't know what had happened and I tried moving my legs but I couldn't move them at all."