Lightning kills cell phone user

Brazil - November 29,1999

Police in a northeastern Brazilian state said that lightning struck and killed a man when he answered his cellular phone during a tropical storm.

Detective Guilherme stated that Jose Santos Araujo was walking with four friends Sunday night in Maria Quiteria 750 miles northeast of Rio de Janeiro when it began to rain.

According to the police:

Mr. Araujo was running for shelter, stopped to answer his cellular phone and was immediately struck down by a bolt of lightning.

Mr. Araujo was killed instantly suffering third degree burns on his head, torso, arms and hands.

The four friends walking with him suffered minor injuries.

Of course the cell phone was not to blame - the hesitation was .