There is no "Burnaby Park" in Vancouver. There is Central Park (sometimes referred to as Burnaby Park simply because it's big) and a Robert Burnaby Park.

queue the people ready to bad mouth the reg for yet another ipod story.

Never mind whether al Qaeda approves of the iPhone. It's obvious that God regards iPods as the instrument of Satan, so using one to listen to religious music is just asking for a zap from the Big G.

I can understand being struck by lightning because of listening to Metallica...... but "religious music"???

Maybe it was really "In the Garden of Eden" by I. Ron Butterfly.

"The unnamed victim, reportedly an active church musician and enjoying "religious music" at the time of the incident"

Obviously the big man "upstairs" wasn't too impressed with his efforts! Although speaking as a devout atheist I suspect it was more to do with the idiot standing under a tree in a thunderstorm which contributed to this guys downfall.

Um, there are loads of people hit by lightning each year because they are under a tree. With the increasing uptake of mp3 players it seems inevitable that someone under a tree who gets hit will have an iPod.

Which do you think provided the extra conductivity to 'entice' the lightning? The 30ft tree connected to the ground, or the 30cm of wire and 10cm metal box connecting the guy's ear to his pocket or hand.

It would appear when you're listening to God Botherer music, an iPod will cause you harm, but if you're listening to Heavy Metal, it'll save your life.

Am I the only one that sees a connection between this and the theories Steve Jobs is in fact SATAN?

I think the real point here isn't the ipod angle - it's clearly the choice of music. The religious bloke listening to religious music was clearly struck down by god himself and deafened to stop him doing it again, while the metallica fan was actually saved.

What do you reckon? God was angry that his music was being played on an iPod and not Creative's latest? Maybe the buddhists have got it right after all!

Best regards to the unfortunate fellow , I hope he recovers.

However:

"The unnamed victim, reportedly an active church musician and enjoying "religious music"

Bahhahaha. lol

The irony :)

Plays music in church, listening to religious music and showing his love for God, then gets struck by lightning. Ah the irony. You couldn't make stuff like this up. Fantastic. Glad the guy survived though. Still fantastic.

Isn't there an ilightning conductor?

I chuckled when I read this because he was hit by an 'act of God' (sorry 'act from your God' to be PC) while listening to 'religious music'.

However on a serious note, I wonder if the guy would be alive if it was not for his Ipod.

On the not so serious side this strikes (oops a bit of a pun there) me as the devil protecting him from God......wow I wonder if his name is Damien.

Still he is very lucky to be alive.

Praise him, worship him, devote your life to him, GET ZAPPED!

Great advert for the existence (or not) of God and how turning to religion will fulfill your life.

ROFLMAO

...because if he hadn't skipped science lessons in favour of "ecclesiatical studies" (or whatever his vice was) he may have learnt that the last place you want to be in an electrical storm is under a tree.

For our next demonstration of why science is not important, we should demonstrate something called an "insulator", particularly in reference to electrical socket covers.

Stephen you have enough faith to hold onto your beliefs as an atheist? Good for you!

Maybe he was experimenting with the wrong sort of religious music. Vengeful God (Alanis Morrisette)?

Besides, might not have been God with the ol' thunderbolt up the sleeve. I remember in the Omen (original, not remake!) where one of the priests was nailed with a lightening conductor off the top of the roof - act of Satan to protect Damien. (though I do remember that confusing me)

Did anyone take into account that it wasn't so much as the ipod or his religion... but the fact he was stupid enouhg if not stark raving mad to stand under a tree during a lighnting storm?

hmmm.....

Did yall 4get that we are all here and free to do as we please. It wasnt an act of God it was a freggin lightning storm and yes my disadvantaged neighbors lightning does come down from up there. Its not about GOoD and evil frenchies its about the fact that God knows canadians are a waste of matter and likes to be humored by yall. I mean what is with yall coming down here wearing shorts, black socks and sandels; thats fine and all just make sure yall are wearing a shirt that states your canadian- not that you love Celine Dion!!!

Where is Otto Z. Stern to remind us that far more golfers are struck down every year than iPod listeners? Nothing like metal on your back and metal in your shoes.

What, do they sing about God? People sometimes describe religion as an energizing experience. Guess this guy got the gist. I remember being in a catholic church as a kid. All those supposedly religious, almighty holy candles and stuff. Could still see the $.99 price stuck on the thing.

Click this link: http://www.struckbylightning.org/news/dispIncidentdb.cfm

Scroll down to 07/08/2007 and find the name Hailu Kidane Marian. Read the caption.

Coincidence? I think not.......

No body has mentioned what the condition of the poor ipod is. RIP

It's almost as if lighning were exhibiting purposive behavior.... intelligence...?

Evo-physics anyone?

I read about this in my local paper yesterday actually (I live in the other London) and wondered why people think an iPod (or the music it's playing for that matter) is going to have any effect whatsoever on lightning. It's like people in cars thinking that the rubber tires are going to stop the lightning. Electricity that's traveled through kilometers of air - a VERY poor conductor - is not going to care about a couple centimeters of rubber.

Granted however, I find the idea of a person being "smited" (or is it "smote"?) while listening to gospel music rather amusing. I'm sorry it happened though, the unfortunate fellow lost 50% of hearing because of it, and can't play music anymore btw.

@Sean: 'I find the idea of a person being "smited" (or is it "smote"?) ...'

Actually, it's "smitten". The lightning smote him: he was smitten by the lightning.

Grammarpolice

With increasing percentage of people listening to iPods when outdoors, it stands to reason that there will be an increase in people who are struck by lightning that will also, by coincedence, be wearing one.

The relationship between lightning strikes and iPods may be correlated, but in no way a direct "cause and effect"...

Understanding these distinctions is something the general public and reporters are nearly completey ignorant. Journalism school should require a semester or two of Statistics, as they "interpret and report" on so many of these types of stories and medical findings to the public, which have an underlying need for understanding statistics and cause & effect.

Usually, the reporting is a disservice, especially when the headlines are so inflammatory and misleading to the actual underlying facts: misunderstandings that can have huge policy and legal ramifications which are not justified.

Dr. Rings, MD

"It's like people in cars thinking that the rubber tires are going to stop the lightning. Electricity that's traveled through kilometers of air - a VERY poor conductor - is not going to care about a couple centimeters of rubber."

Google "faraday cage"

http://www.google.com/search?q=faraday+cage

Hint, it has nothing to do with the tyres.

Both "smitten" and "smote" are the past tense of "smite". "Smitten" is more often used as a term to imply infatuation, whereas "smote" does not have this ambiguity.

maybe he had a lapse in faith and asked for a sign?

Geez, ppl!

The next article will be: Studies show RSS feeds of The Reg cause brain malfunction.

No actually - <insert country here> iPhone user struck by lightning.

Can we NOW move on from the iPod pls?

He was a closet Metallica fan listening to "Ride the Lightning" followed in heavy rotation by "Fade to Black."