Police in Chatham say a 19-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after a suspected lightning strike in Chatham.

The incident happened Thursday around 8:39 p.m. in Haas Field on 480 Main St.

A couple living next to the field found Brendan Darby after the strike and called for medical help.

According to police, Darby, of Chatham Township, was found unconscious about 10 feet from a soccer goal post, but he was alert and conscious by the time authorities arrived.

Darby says he noticed a storm coming and thought he should get home.

"But I looked and saw that there were about 10 other people doing stuff too so in the back of my head I thought I should be fine," he says.

Police say Darby did not remember seeing a lightning strike or falling unconscious. He thinks he only loss consciousness for a minute or two.

His life may have been saved because it was an indirect hit.

"I definitely feel lucky that I'm alive but unlucky at the same time that I got hit by lightning because the chances are so low," Darby said.

He was taken to Morristown Medical Center for additional evaluation and sent home Thursday night.