I learned the main rule of high voltage work a long time ago:
"Keep one hand in the pocket"
I think I was about 3 years old, when I touched the mains line the first time.
That is all not too crazy.
Getting a strike from high voltage and low current AC does not feel good, but one will survive.
The respect comes in, when the current limiting circuit is missing and you are dealing with high voltage.
I have been extremely cautious with those circuits, AC and DC and never got hit.
It would probably be lethal.