"I’ve never been so scared in my life:" BC woman nearly hit by meteorite

Ruth Hamilton was sound asleep last week when she was awoken by her dog barking, the sound of a crash through her ceiling and the feeling of debris on her face, the resident of Golden, B.C., said Monday.
She said she jumped out of bed and turned on the light to figure out what had happened, and discovered a hole in her ceiling.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” she said of the Oct. 3 incident. “I wasn’t sure what to do so I called 911 and, when I was speaking with the operator, I flipped over my pillow and saw that a rock had slipped between two pillows.”
A police officer was immediately sent to investigate, she said. Initially, the officer suspected it was debris from a construction site on a nearby highway.
“He called the (construction site) and they said they hadn’t done a blast but that they had seen an explosion in the sky and, right then and there, we realized it was a meteorite.”
They concluded it must have been a fragment from a meteor shower that took place earlier that night.
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[@jwf3148]

She seems like such a nice lady - so glad that she wasn't injured.

[@fizashahid1640]

Ikr, Luckily 🕊

[@bennyblanco2523]

Looks can be deceiving.

[@lukeamato2348]

She should be able to sell that for enouvh to fix the roof and gave a very nice vacation

[@jlvandat69]

Absolutely- a very nice person. Perhaps Karma works?

[@georgehaffen4105]

honestly, I feel like nobody deserves to be injured this way

[@Adriana-eu6ty]

She speaks so softly. Glas that she is ok🙌🏻 And her dog is so cute ☺️

[@heels-villeshoerepairs8613]

It could pass through the earths atmosphere a zillion times and not land on her house let alone her pillow! We are talking inches here! Amazing.

[@jumsaesiaw6890]

Truly miracle to survive the inches from being hit by an outer world objects. Amazing story 👏👏👏👏👏

[@jimmykrackin6344]

Ya…… but it didn’t have to do all that……… It only did it one time

[@Tre16]

@@jumsaesiaw6890 nothing miraculous about it lol

[@huskiehuskerson5300]

@@Tre16 yep just probability,

[@rockyevans1584]

@@Tre16 no, but its undoubtedly amazing.

[@geraldpiwowar4088]

That rock is worth many thousands of dollars. I hope she didn't give it away.

[@Engineer9736]

Yeah as soon as they said that they let some university or something inspect it, i guess it’s now in the university their hands. But hopefully not. Though maybe even then there could be some laws which state something about the ownership of such meteorite when such a thing happens.

[@gistfilm]

@@Engineer9736 Local news is garbage. This was the most interesting question and they failed to answer it.

[@AnAlbertaGirlAtHeart]

gistfilm they also could have done more to acknowledge the dog ! That is quite remarkable that it woke her seconds before. What did it hear ? How did it sense ? Not that the dog could answer those questions, but it's amazing and the circumstances deserved more recognition

[@hmarie2494]

I read elsewhere she loaned it to researchers. They'll return it to her. It landed on her property therefore it is hers. I think it could be valuable...but what a cool thing to pass down in the family! The space rock that almost killed grandma!

[@gistfilm]

@@AnAlbertaGirlAtHeart It's interesting. If he really woke up just seconds before, he might have been responding to disturbances in the atmosphere, though I'm not sure to what extent that would be detectable from something as tiny as a meteorite.

[@johnpeter4184]

Mellow sweet and kind. Her smile tells it all. She has an attitude of gratitude.

[@natasha5062]

Thats equally the scariest and coolest thing to happen at the same time!!! I wonder if she kept a piece

[@amberlalonde2148]

It's fascinating! Glad she's ok but I would of kept part of the rock too!

[@timothyroper2459]

Yes they should have gave her lot of money 💰and fix her house 🏠😒🙄I think I would have to talk to a lawyer first just think 🤔her ROCK would have sold on ebay for lest 100k!!!

[@iknownothing7044]

@@timothyroper2459 America stands for freedom shouldn't be no they. sound like China. I wish they would mess with mine

[@briankenyon1543]

@@iknownothing7044 please tell me you are 5, and swiped your mum's phone while she wasn't looking 😧??? Because if you are infact an adult.... Oh my good-grammer me!!? Faaaaark

[@iknownothing7044]

@@briankenyon1543 go fly a kite moderator

[@CanadianDiggersChannel]

The damaged roof metal and the drywall are worth some money now, as is the meteorite. An ordinary Chondrite with a great story is more valuable than a lone fall in itself.

[@eligebrown8998]

Yup

[@davefreckleton7962]

Yoire just jeolous becauss youre so far away

[@billwhelan466]

The famous Peekskill meteor 92' went for $50,000 and the damaged car went for $25,000 meteorites=bank

[@billg7205]

@@billwhelan466 LOL that was the famous Mailbu I believe, an otherwise worthless car

[@eligebrown8998]

@@billwhelan466 maybe that's the one I was thinking of. You are right about the bank

[@specialk2183]

That's one awesome puppy dog. Saved that woman's life!

[@rosyybear374]

Her dog saved her life❤️❤️❤️

[@onelittlelamb4030]

What about more talk on how her dog is a hero… Always good reasons to have a dog. Dog lovers are just better people…

[@BeReady726]

this has always been my fear, until I told myself the odds are too low to ever worry about that, but then I see this

[@Chompchompyerded]

That means your odds are now even lower. Thank God that she wasn't hurt, and that you're not going to be the one who has to face it.

[@cherylsibson2529]

Just goes to show how dogs can be intuitive with senses that can tell when things are going to happen before they can happen, good job dog, and maybe the lady could take the rock to the bank tomorrow and put it in the bank deposit box.

[@bethanyephraim2761]

I was just thinking that rock could be a lot worth and it fell straight from the universe, so why should anyone else take it?

[@opalfenner8821]

Yeah I would definitely have kept the Rock

[@bethanyephraim2761]

@@opalfenner8821 .. Trust me, I will never give anyone my rock - O, if only one would visit me? Please do 😂😂🤣🤣

[@opalfenner8821]

@@bethanyephraim2761 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@bethanyephraim2761]

@@opalfenner8821 .. So many people in the US have found rocks that are Millions of $ worth and have become rich - What's wrong with Canadians, why are they letting "them" take the rocks? ☹☹ This is the 2nd one I'm seeing come through the roof, one was in Mississauga about 2years back? My rock is mine & no one gets it. Period!!

[@harryv6147]

She had an out-of-this-world close encounter! She is a lucking woman!

[@gladys3041]

Hello can I have it

[@harryv6147]

@@gladys3041- Wish you good luck and good health!

[@gladys3041]

@@harryv6147 thank you 🙏 and good health to God Bless

[@anastacie40]

Imo, a miracle/angels watching over her. 🙏 😇

[@singleplytech]

Did that reporter really say "the astro belt"? wow, that's just sad

[@arpitsrivstva]

Astro(id) belt. Whats wrong?

[@AnAlbertaGirlAtHeart]

That dog deserves a lot more acknowledgment . It saved her life !

[@KK-pq6lu]

Amazing that it had the power to bust through the roof, then land softly on the pillow. Must have been a MyPillow.

[@N.A525]

Haha good one

[@eddyreynoso5612]

XD !!!

[@markg1490]

Lol

[@95rav]

It didn't even scorch the sheets... Luke Warm Meteorites. Most glow red hot!

[@kevins3646]

Mike Lindell will be crying they stole the rocks.

[@asianboss6355]

So the dog could sense the rock a rock is coming a few seconds before it hit the house? Must be the dog’s super hearing senses

[@lorainestjames4181]

likely sound and vibration due to their (dogs) sensitive hearing .

[@SuperBroncosguy]

GOOD DOG.

[@asianboss6355]

@Lonestar Papa yes that's true they can see if the windows are not shaded out ....especially a meteor those things light up the sky n bright as the sun

[@asianboss6355]

@@SuperBroncosguy the dog prob saved her life as well ....made her switch position

[@Francois_Dupont]

probably just classic witness false testimony. after telling the story 20-50times it tend to change alot.

[@fishernate]

I hope she gets to keep it. It’s probably worth more than her house.

[@pcj3405]

Thinking the same thing. That's why i came to the comments. My luck it would be a Joe dirt Boeing bomb and it would have landed in my face!

[@MarcusDaGrand]

She lives in BC. Nothing is worth more than her house.

[@fishernate]

@@MarcusDaGrand 😂

[@shoebill181]

The Lord was watching after Dear Lady. You are very calm.

[@andrewapurcell]

Are you sure he wasn't saying ''WATCH OUT!!!''?

[@mozartstudios9244]

I can't believe it went through a metal roof, through plywood and drywall before coming to a comfortable rest on her pillow. So lucky she didn't toss ans turn that night!

[@rickystarduster]

guess the meteorite wanted a comfortable place to sleep or was just attracted to her lol

[@rockyevans1584]

@@jhay440 I'm sure doggo could hear it hurtling down for the last minute or 2

[@Engineer9736]

If you look at the pictures at the end of this video, the dog was just barking to that. Dogs are still just animals, not magic personal protection angels or something.

[@banditqueenbanditqueen9110]

Wow, now that was close. Usually found in the back yard or open. Actually coming through the roof is very rare. Glad she escaped injury.

[@rockyevans1584]

I'm sure they mostly hit water. Buildings must account for a pretty small percentage of the earth's surface

[@dereckmcmahon1404]

Someone should tell her that the rock could be worth as much as a million bucks .

[@briankeyes268]

In Canada they belong to the government.

[@briankeyes268]

@@jhay440 interesting. So if it is in a park or on crown land it the governments. My information must be old.

[@briankeyes268]

@@jhay440 there are very few homestead properties that hold the mineral rights of their property. It was included in the original deeds but was left out after properties sold. That again may be old. It is true though if you bought property that you find a mineral deposits on you are not allowed to extract it. Oh Canada

[@DeltaH-9]

@@briankeyes268 No they don't

[@Alexis05776]

Glad she is ok!! Does she get to keep the rock once they’re done with it??🤔

[@Brett733]

I would hope so, it is worth thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars, possibly more if it has a rare composition

[@missbee4809]

They better 😂 it’s not even theirs... I’d be pissed if they try to take what was clearly given to her. It’s Worth lots of money

[@banditqueenbanditqueen9110]

Yes, its on her property and if they want it they have to pay for it. Why wouldn't she keep it? It doesn't belong to anyone and she's not obliged to inform anyone. Its on loan for study.

[@sjcobra84]

The dog is the MVP in this story.

[@jsidhu1859]

Just wondering, Rock traveling at that speed why it didn't burn the bed or sheets. wouldn't it be hot.

[@shawomet1]

In fact, they are often as cold as dry ice. They have been cold soaked in the absolute zero of space for millions of years. The short time in atmosphere only heats the surface very briefly, and they are seldom hot to the touch. But when something is that cold, it can feel like a burn on touch. But, no not hot, and meteorites don’t start fires, etc….

[@talalztube]

those sell for millions, why would she even go public is beyond me

[@63yank]

i hope she knows it;s possible value as it is a big one

[@talalztube]

@@63yank think they already took it away to “test” it for life form, she’s probably kicking herself now

[@shawomet1]

She legally owns it. The lab at Western University is not going to steal it. The value is determined by several factors. Including getting it typed. Rare types are worth more. Space rocks that crash thru human structures like this are worth more. The publicity actually will increase the value. But Canadian law is simple and clear. She owns it. If she sold it outside the country, she needs an export permit, but Canada is good about that and usually grants permits. Until then, Canadian institutions can offer her fair market value. Right now, she plans to keep it. But it is worth a small fortune. There will be more pieces out there, so the hunt is on to beat any snow cover….

[@TKassa]

She should buy a lottery ticket.

[@mrlockhart4252]

A meteorite that size... she just has to sell it and live like she did win the lottery.

[@heartsmyfaceforever8140]

That meteorite IS the winning lottery ticket. People will pay a lot for that

[@infinitecuriosity9210]

I hope she's aware that they can be worth millions of dollars. 🇨🇦

[@wendymorrison5619]

Valuable, yes. Millions??? No

[@bodhienglish9781]

Just seconds before, that thing sitting cosy on the pillow was hundreds of miles up hurtling through the dark, fathomless wilderness of space...

[@kristinab1078]

All that way, hurtling through space - just to end up next to you and your pillow. What are the odds? It would be hard not to wonder, "What does it mean?"

[@hybrid6692]

There could be more like this as at the moment there is quite an amount of space dirt around , eyes to the sky people !

[@julielabelle2783]

Wow! Her guardian angel was on duty! Thank you for sharing. ☄️

[@conkshell9445]

Well, saved by the dog (??) The rock will more than pay for her roof repairs !!

[@bardofoc]

I'd say this story played out like an episode of the Twilight Zone.

[@chrisladouceur4093]

Dog must have seen the light from it outside or heard it falling before it hit. Good thing she got up right then. Very lucky and pretty cool too!

[@nathalieblais5395]

Amazing luck. Thank God for your fur baby. I don't know you but I'm glad that you're alive.

[@Rekowcski]

its both terrifying and mesmerizing

[@gerry4281]

Traumatic. Poor woman. God bless.❤️

[@onestudent2568]

About 1984, my younger freshman year sister was driving --from San Luis Obispo State University. A huge meteorite went through her windshield==travelling so fast the windshield was fully intact with the huge hole etc.--until window replaced about five days later. My sister went into shock--while nonstop driving another 90 miles to our house--terrified to stop. I lived with my parents and answered a frantic, continuous doorbell ring. She clutched me so tight and was whiter than a ghost, trembling nonstop. UC Berkeley and a few space scientists helped identify--after days of agencies unable to identify what "earthly product" it was. My father made a special case for it. The meteorite is about 14 inches long by 6 inches wide. It hit the middle console and ended up in backseat. It would have killed her instantly and also caused her car to go off the road...Miracles happen. (Cell phones and internet didn't exist back then.)

[@milli6415]

WOW, GOD IS GOOD, YOUR SISTER IS BRAVER THAN SHE THINK!!

[@onestudent2568]

I am so glad Ruth is OK. She has a story to tell for the rest of her life--just like my younger sister, Diana.

[@rockyevans1584]

Great, and we all know Diana so no need for context

[@kevinangelo2613]

They better have let her keep it since it was looking for her. It was attracted to her! Blessed.

[@oTuro]

Did they steal the rock from her or did they let her keep it? Seems like they took it from her when all they needed was a tiny fragment to confirm when it is rightfully hers and I hope it is returned to her. Once in a lifetime find

[@briankeyes268]

Not in Canada, belongs to the government.

[@quantumx9924]

@@briankeyes268 In Canada meteorites belong the the owner of the property where they are found.

[@davidmennomoyer]

@@briankeyes268 - wrong.

[@cf4165]

@@briankeyes268 nope. Not true bud

[@Rayman1971]

@@quantumx9924 So if it lands on Crown land, or a protected area...it's the queens...

[@research1747]

I hope that she makes sure she keeps it !

[@mr.chuckleteeth4382]

Amazing!!!

[@cheraylucas]

Thank God, for his Mercy and Grace. ☝️👀🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@iamhumanbeing3]

May she be happy, and healthy...🌸❤️🌌

[@indigenous31617]

I am astounded that it slowed down enough to rest on bedding.

[@SilverSunPublishing]

It had a "soft landing."

[@jonsebastian1366]

People in Golden are so mellow. I would be too, with all the natural beauty so close.

[@granmabern5283]

It’s all those months of enforced hibernation. Get mellow or get gone!

[@kellygreen8882]

That was Devine !!!

[@Whistlewalk]

Very scary, yes! But what an amazing experience. What a story to tell. Lucky lady to be alive.

[@emeraldmoon150]

Not gonna lie if this happened to me it would give me a new meaning to life not just being afraid of it once it's happened. What are the chances of it like less than getting struck by lightning.

[@DRIIC-qw8us]

way way way way way way less than being struck by lightning.

[@titli366]

You should be thankful to your dog

[@zboxxa]

That’s what we call “Luck”

[@jamaldee2355]

That’s insane bro!!!!!

[@nicolestewart]

Amazing

[@bennyblanco2523]

More grand theatre for the masses.

[@pearllast8249]

whoa!! yikes!! that was a close call!!

[@Nikkirael]

Always wondered what happened to those falling 🌠

[@Snowkitty1424]

I hope she thanked her dog for saving her life...NO BARK =NO WAKE UP CALL FOR HER TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!

[@alison4316]

Wow!!!! Just wow!!!

[@girln1dog667]

Good doggie saved mom

[@Tripp2Deuce]

That's wild that the bed stopped it.

[@water2wine1]

Wow 😮

[@WJGSix]

Haha I was just talking about this with some co workers and here it is. It’s gotta land somewhere and this poor soul had the scare of her life cause it landed next to her. Glad she’s ok and hope no one gets seriously hurt from a random piece of the universe just falling from the sky.

[@keithclark6521]

Wow you are one lucky girl.. that is a one in a billion chance that would happen. You could live twice and that probably wouldn't happen again.

[@markg1490]

What I don't understand is how a "hot" meteroite did not burn her pillow and mattress.

[@LSGproductions713]

Let me guess, they took it from her and have no intentions of giving it back? That thing is worth a lot of money.

[@mymy3172]

The lady can go safely back to that same bed knowing that , that will never happened to her again in a very very long time.

[@maryrobertson5250]

Couldn't happen to a nicer woman. She is giving the space rock to her grandchildren as a treasured heirloom. What a story. Hopefully her media interviews will help pay for the damage to the roof. Her doggy definitely deserves an extra helping of cuddles and walkies tonight. 🍁🌠🍁

[@donnamarshall1980]

I hope she gets to keep it.

[@nannycarrotfingers7049]

Imagine how unlucky you have to be to get hit by a meteor

[@frankwhite4172]

the dog saved your life

[@johnwoa]

"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day...." --- Perry Como. What are the odds of this happening, and right on your bedroom pillow! Amazing!

[@leifheffalump]

Do you know where golden is cuz I know can you tell me it what city is it nearby

[@mcnivenjjm]

At a minimum $200,000 at most $1,000,000 for that meteorite.

[@wendymorrison5619]

This lady is uninjured, so glad of that. But the value of that meteorite is huge as it hit a home. She needs to guard it well and get good advice.

[@MervinJCarey]

It should be returned to her as treasure

[@ronjoshuaregis3697]

You're like the most lucky and unlucky person at that moment

[@rekamredar6143]

I'm not buying it. Nice story for the masses thought.

[@adriennem9832]

Very lucky indeed. I heard something hit my home one night. Checked as far as I could around the siding. Not a scrape but it shook me so bad the noise and I heard it hit the house but never found what it was. I thought meteroite. Or ice from a plane as it was a path above our house. Cheers

[@peterthornton2396]

Would love to know exactly what’s in the rock. To think that’s been floating around for billions of years. Mind blowing

[@Chompchompyerded]

It's only been floating around for at most a couple of decades. Notice the square edges on one end of it. It's a heat dissipation tile off of one of the Space Shuttles. They fell of pretty frequently from non-critical areas from the center and aft wing.

[@razony]

This reminds me of 'Toilet seat girl' from the sitcom 'Dead Like Me' filmed in BC in the early 2000's Great show by the way. Girl gets struck by a space station toilet seat falling from orbit and lands on her and...Dead Like Me!

[@urbanlegendsandtrivia2023]

I love these elaborate Halloween pranks.

[@holdilocks]

Can't Imagine the phone call to the insurance company. Glad she wasn't hurt, much more of a chance getting struck by lightning with a clear blue sky - wow!

[@Engineer9736]

Insurance companies often have a natural disaster clause… and insurance companies tend to try to dive behind anything possible to not pay out.

[@Turner.1]

Good grief, mercy sakes, well sell that little rock

[@nickv1008]

Should be worth some money $$$

[@serg3y]

How hot are these things usually? If it came down in one piece then it should be scorching hot. Does that imply that it broke up in the last minutes of aerobreaking?

[@shawomet1]

They have been cold soaked in the absolute zero of space for millions of years. Atmospheric entry produces surface heat only, and they are usually actually cold to the touch upon impact. They don’t burn or start fires, etc.

[@kpackage62]

I hope she keeps it!!!!

[@pennyl.8799]

Hope she's properly informed it's legally hers and that she should be able to fetch a nice price for it.

[@valkyrie5948]

She needs to buy a lottery tichet

[@MikaelMurstam]

what can't be explained??? You mentioned in the beginning, some things can't be explained? Like what? This was perfectly explained.

[@_stardust62]

There was a girls car that was struck by a meteorite in 1992 (peekskill, new york)...she sold the space rock and her car for thousands of dollars..

[@astrogeo1]

Robert Haag of Tuscon, Arizona told me that the family's cat while lying on the lap of one of the family members, some seconds before the meteorite hit the back of the car, started swirling its head in all directions, obviously being able to hear or sense it coming towards their property !

[@kizzume]

At least 15% on the ceiling

[@SnowTiger45]

That meteorite is worth a LOT of MONEY. She needs to get the majority of it back from the University. Not only that, but the Roof Steel has significant value too because collectors love that type of thing. It is worth enough to replace her entire roof.

[@Rob741741]

That rock is worth about $15K.

[@trentdabs5245]

I think it's just a rock 🤔

[@hilomdulom8689]

@@trentdabs5245 not an ordinary rock

[@N.A525]

Send it down here to TX then

[@Engineer9736]

@@N.A525 Just any random spot in Texas? Maybe Starship can launch the meteorite back into space.

[@JasonJason210]

She got lucky. That's a sizeable meteorite and should cover the roof repair costs and some.

[@chiefwhitebuffalo3614]

Hi with the rock do u still have it. I love to have a look at it

[@quataeeweller4124]

SHES A GREAT ACTOR

[@rschiwal]

Dog saved her life.

[@TamaraLR]

Thank goodness her dog woke her up.!!