A FATHER-OF-ONE is lucky to be alive after being struck by lightning during bank holiday storms.

Ronald Marlow, 60, got the shock of his life when he was struck while walking down Chislehurst High Street at 11.30am on May 30.

He was under an umbrella looking in a shop window with his wife Maggie during the storm.

As they walked away they noticed a vivid flash coming towards them.

His wife took a step back but Mr Marlow walked straight into the flash of light, which knocked him to the ground.

His wife, who is the deputy headteacher of Merton Court School, Sidcup, shouted for help as Mr Marlow was grounded by a lightning strike carrying up to one million volts.

The advertising account manager of Warnford Road, Orpington said: "I remember crumpling to the floor from the shock.

"I felt as if I was having a heart attack. I just couldn't breathe. I had palpitations and scorch marks across my chest and arms."

Tony Goodman, landlord of the nearby Queen's Head pub, which was also struck by lightning, called an ambulance when he saw what had happened.

When the ambulance arrived Mr Marlow was given oxygen and taken to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, where they carried out tests on his heart.

Mr Marlow added: "I still have a terrible headache.My arm feels like it has been gone over with a steamroller.

"But I'm glad I walked away alive and nothing worse had happened to me."

The Met Office says there is a one-in-three-million chance of being struck by lightning.

A spokesman added: "It's a rare occurrence. You expect anglers or golfers to be at the highest risk of being struck by lightning, normally when they are in open spaces.

"It's very unusual for it to happen to a man walking down a high street."