Lightning-struck girl saved by her iPod

London, Jun 19 (ANI): A teenage girl, who was sheltering from a storm beneath a tree, survived a devastating lightning strike after her iPod, which was round her neck, diverted the 300,000-volt surge that hit her.

Sophie Frost, 14, received just minor burns and singed hair as the bolt zipped through the headphone wire hanging from her school uniform, scorching her clothes but missing all her vital organs.

She was rushed to a specialist burns unit, where doctors said that they were confident she would make a full recovery, and that too without even a scar.

"I don't remember a thing about what happened, but from what everyone tells me it's a miracle I'm still here," the Sun quoted Sophie as saying on June 18.

"Everybody's said the iPod must have diverted the lightning away from my body, which probably saved my life. I've got a few burns, but it's all healing OK," she said.

Sophie, of Southend, Essex, was holding hands with boyfriend Mason Billington, 14, when the lightning struck them in Rayleigh.

Both were knocked unconscious and Mason suffered eye damage, although it is hoped this will not be permanent.

"I just thank God my daughter is still alive," Sophie's mum Julie said.

"The doctors say her iPod saved her. Her nan only bought it a few days ago. Luckily, she wasn't actually wearing the headphones. If she had been, she might not be here today.

"Mind you, the only thing Sophie seemed worried about was that her new iPod was frazzled," she added. (ANI)