Discovery host, Forrest Galante, hit by lightning while recording in Florida

While reflecting on the moment he was struck, he said he didn’t realize what was happening.

“Out of nowhere, crazy thunder hits and this massive flash,” he said. “And I don’t see anything because I’m facing the camera. But I just feel my legs seize up and my butt. I’m like, literally paralyzed. For just a fraction of a second before trying to scramble up the bank and out of the water.”

Galante said he didn’t realize how close the lightning bolt was until he reviewed the footage, but he felt it.

He says he cannot be without his GPS just as a huge bolt of orange lightning crashes down through the trees behind him.

Galante ducks then scurries out of the water, saying: ‘I got hit.’ The cameraman also jumps back and records shots of the Everglades after the strike. 

As the camera faces the sandy ground full of debris, the wildlife expert says, ‘I’m okay,’ as the others with him question if that was all caught on video. 

In the same day, Galante, a Discovery Chanel host, Wildlife Biologist and author sat down and posted a video on his YouTube and explains the incident. 

‘Wow, what a day. So, today was supposed to be an easy day- we’re here in Southern Florida filming a bunch of different content, and one of the things we set out to do today was head into the swamp area and film some content for Garmin,’ said Galante. 

Garmin makes innovative GPS technology across sports and fitness, outdoor, automotive, and aviation markets. 

He admits that toward the end of the day the weather was starting to take a dark turn, as rain started to roll in and he heard some thunder crack in the distance. While reflecting on the moment he was struck, he said he didn’t realize what was happening.

“Out of nowhere, crazy thunder hits and this massive flash,” he said. “And I don’t see anything because I’m facing the camera. But I just feel my legs seize up and my butt. I’m like, literally paralyzed. For just a fraction of a second before trying to scramble up the bank and out of the water.”

Galante said he didn’t realize how close the lightning bolt was until he reviewed the footage, but he felt it.