This amazing photograph gives whole new meaning to the phrase “May God strike me with lightning if …”
Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm over the Brazilian city on Sunday.
The statue - which towers over the city as the largest statue of Christ in the world - did not appear too damaged after the strike, according to Brazilian reports.
The statue stands 39.6 metres (130ft) tall, is made of 700 tons of reinforced concrete, and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,296ft) Corcovado mountain overlooking the city.
It was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Sunday’s lightning storm felled trees and wreaked havoc in several Rio neighbourhoods.