A Fujian Province man who swore an oath that he had never borrowed money from a friend was struck by lightning a minute later, a local newspaper reported.

The man, Xu is now out of danger after emergency treatment in hospital, the Dongnan Express said.

It all happened on Tuesday afternoon when Xu's friend, Huang, came to his house and asked him to repay a debt of 500 yuan (US$71.4). Xu had asked Huang to deliver a red envelope containing 500 yuan as a wedding gift to another friend three years before.

But Xu forgot all about the loan and Huang never got his money back.

That afternoon Xu was insisting that he had never borrowed money from Huang. Eventually Huang proposed that he would forget about the loan if Xu swore an oath that he had never borrowed the money.

Xu stood and solemnly swore if he had ever borrowed money from Huang he should be struck by lightning.

One minute later he was struck by lightning.

At least Huang now has a chance of repayment when Xu gets out of hospital.

(Shanghai Daily August 28, 2008)