Originally Posted by John Ridley

He was almost certainly not directly struck. He caught some induction from a nearby strike, or a side-branch of the main trunk of lightning. Direct lightning hits on humans are not common, because ionized air conducts at least as well as flesh. But if you did take a direct hit, you'd be smoked; when lightning hits trees directly, they typically explode because the sap inside them is instantly boiled. I don't think people would fare better.