But life went on. The blone cleaned the cod and the mackerel. The cove chopped up the waste and put it in the lobster traps. They laid the traps together in the sea and took them out two days later. They sold the lobsters and crabs to a supplier in Stornoway.

Lightning struck for the fourth time in 2007 as Hamish MacKay was returning home from his ma’s funeral. His Sunday suit caught fire and a burn the shape of tree roots marked his back. It zigzagged from his right shoulder to his left hip. This time, the nerves in his left leg were also damaged. Hamish developed a limp. His hair and nails grew back. His posture collapsed.

By 2012, Hamish MacKay had been struck by lightning more times than any other European. In global terms, he was number four for all time. He got a mention in Guinness World Records.

Hamish MacKay featured in an episode of a documentary series made by the BBC. The programme analysed the frequency of thunderstorms in the Outer Hebrides and compared Hamish to other fishermen working in the area. The case of Hamish MacKay remained a mystery to the programme makers.

Dear Mr MacKay,

I watched the documentary about you on television, and your story touched me greatly. I wanted to write to you because fate has also toyed with me. It is true my case is very different from yours, and involves no thunder. I have won the lottery twice, you see. (And you are the only person outside my family whom I have told.) Maybe after four lightning strikes you think two wins is not a big deal, but in any case, I have been thrown off course quite badly.

I hope you do not mind if I tell my story. Three years ago, I won the lottery. What a coincidence – my exact numbers in those plastic tubes! Incredible! But on the other hand, somebody’s numbers always drop into the tubes, and this time they just happened to be mine.

I settled my debts and arranged my life exactly as I wanted. I did some travelling. I bought an old house. I had the perfect workshop built. I was happy! Everything had been sorted out! Do you understand, Mr MacKay? I had been short of money all my life, and now all those worries were gone. What a sense of freedom, and what a relief!

But then I had another win. Again my numbers dropped into the tubes – different numbers from the first time. I did not know that was even possible, but there they were. And suddenly chance did not seem a good enough explanation. I was not happy and I did not rejoice. I did not feel anything at all. In some strange way, this second win took away the pleasure that the first one had granted.