Dont confuse "ball lightning" and the "glowing ball" following a lightning strike as they are two different phenomena. The "glowing ball" following a LS is simply ionised gas with little current ( ******all amps). I have heard of experienced cabin-crew jumping over it on it's way down the cabin (it usualy occurs at floor level) with little fear of an electric shock!
However, my favourite remains the old-boy I flew with many years ago who had a great theory about WX radar and reducing lightning strikes. He swore he had more lightning strikes with the radar turned on than he ever did with it turned off. He believed the radar sent out a leader which attracted the main stroke. As a result he said "
You're better off turning the bloody thing off when there's a thunderstorm around " .....and I thought he was joking
Finally, anyone else seen lightning being discarged vertical upwards from a Cb? I thought lightning either went Cloud-Cloud or Cloud-Ground, this bolt just disappeared going upwards.