The heatwave ended with thunderstorms and lightning in many places. Being hit by lightning is exceptionally rare in Britain, though extremely dangerous, but there are some people who have had miraculous medical cures or even acquired amazing abilities after being struck.
In his book Musicophilia, the neurologist Oliver Sacks describes how a surgeon, Tony Cicoria, nearly died after being struck by lightning in 1994. He recovered, but afterwards became obsessed with piano music, having previously had no musical interest or talent.
He was determined to play the piano and practised early in the morning before work and last thing at night. “I became obsessed with the piano and came to believe the only reason I survived the lightning was because of the music,” he
