Barwick man gets shock of his life

Hit by lightning Wednesday, gall bladder out on Monday. So far, the month of July has been an exciting one for Cliff Hagen of Barwick.
Hagen, who builds log homes, was at a work site around 4 p.m. on July 5 when a thunderstorm moved in. He decided to shut down early and was covering up his skidder when he got the shock of his life.
A bolt of lightning struck the boom of the skidder, sending him flying through the air.
“It sent him about 20 feet,” said his wife, Cheryl, who received a frightening phone call shortly after the incident.
“He just felt the whole thing go through him,” she added.
Hagen’s 20-year-old son, Justin, was working with his father at the time and rushed to his side. Hagen was conscious and speaking but having difficulty pronouncing words.
He also couldn’t get up.
His son picked him up, carried him to their vehicle, and drove him to the Emo clinic. A short time later, Hagen walked out.
“His heart was racing really bad,” said his wife. “He’s been sore, his whole left side is sore, and his neck and heels are sore.”
Hagen was unavailable for comment because he is at home recovering–not from the bolt of lightning but from gall bladder surgery Monday morning.
It went without a hitch.