Struck by lightning? Bitten by a brown recluse spider? Bitten by a rattlesnake? Unfortunately, it's yes to all three for Kyle Cook.

  • Man struck by lightning, bitten by brown recluse spider, rattlesnake
  • Instead of unlucky, Kyle Cook calls himself fortunate for surviving
  • Cook has a wife and four children
  • https://www.gofundme.com/kylecooknfamily

Cook was struck by lightning four years ago. In April, he was bitten by a brown recluse spider. On August 11th, he was bitten by a rattlesnake.

In the latest incident, Cook was mowing the grass in his backyard when he spotted a rattlesnake near some bushes. He got close enough to take a picture of the snake with his cell phone. Cook now regrets getting close enough to the snake to take the picture.

“Absolutely, because they are nothing to play around with,” he said.

As he started to step away from the snake, it struck. It bit him on his left ankle. By the time Cook made it to an emergency room and he received antivenin, his leg had begun to swell. He is recovering at home now and has a slight limp. It was a frightening situation.


A photo of the rattlesnake bite. It happened while Cook was trying to take a photo of the rattlesnake. He regrets getting too close. (Rick Elmhorst, Staff)

“I cry every time I think about it because I have four kids,” said Cook.

Cook was struck by lightning four years ago working outside with some heavy equipment. The lightning went in one arm and out the other. He was knocked to the ground unconscious for about 30 seconds. He suffered a concussion and back injury. Cook said he suffered PTSD after the incident.


Cook points to the scar caused by a lightning strike four years ago.  

Then in April, he suffered a brown recluse spider bite on his hand while working at a loading dock. Cook said he almost lost his hand due to the spider bite.

Is Cook the luckiest or unluckiest person in the Bay area?

“I would say blessed. He's here for a reason,” said Cook’s wife, Sara.

"I could say I am the most unlucky but if I was unlucky I would be dead. I am the most fortunate person,” said Cook.