Story highlights Calif. teens walking to get burger when struck by lightning

Doctor: Holding hands spared them serious injury

(CNN) California teens Lexie Varga and Dylan Corliss may do a lot more hand-holding after a frightening encounter with nature.

The rising high school senior and junior, respectively, are recovering from minor injuries after being struck by lightning Thursday in Claremont.

According to a doctor, the injuries could have been much worse had it not been for the fact that they were walking hand in hand.

"These two were lucky they that they were holding hands. It helped to diffuse the electrical current that ran through their bodies," Dr. Stefan Reynoso told CNN affiliate KCAL

Corliss said he and Varga were walking to grab a burger when lightning lit up the sky. Next thing they knew, they both were on the sidewalk, screaming and looking at each other, terrified.

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