NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A 29-year-old man who was struck by lightning on a Volusia County beach and later died was on his honeymoon when the tragedy occurred, officials said.
The lightning strike happened Friday on New Smyrna Beach near the 27th Avenue approach.
Volusia County Beach Safety Director Tammy Malphurs told News 6 Community Correspondent Molly Reed that first responders performed CPR on the victim.
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he died on Saturday, Malphurs said on Monday.
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The man, who was from Colorado, was on his honeymoon when he was struck, officials said.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood shared a statement on the tragic death:
So sorry for the tragic loss of a young man here on a delayed honeymoon with his wife. At 29 years old, he should have had many more anniversaries with her for years to come. Sending sincere condolences to this young woman on behalf of all of us in Volusia County who were hoping against hope that the diligent efforts of our lifeguards, EMS team and ER staff would bring him back to her.
Mike Chitwood
The victim wasn’t the only person struck by lightning in New Smyrna Beach Friday.
The NSB Fire Department confirmed that two golfers had been indirectly struck by lightning at the Venetian Bay Golf Course at around 12:18 p.m.
Both golfers were evaluated and neither required emergency transport to the hospital, the agency said.
For Monday, rain chances are lower, around 30%, but our News 6 meteorologists say any storms that do pop up have the potential for heavy downpours and frequent lightning.
Malphurs says it’s rare for someone to be hit by lightning in a storm that is several miles away, but it does happen.
“We see them, and a lot of times they move in really fast. A lot of times they’re miles away and you’ll see a random bolt of lightning, which it happens. It’s rare in this instance, it happened like Friday,” Malphurs said.
Malphurs has worked with Volusia Beach Safety for many years, and she says it’s been a while since someone died from a lightning strike on the county’s beaches.
“I’ve seen about six or seven people die on the beach from lightning strikes,” Malphurs said.
If you are on a beach when there is lightning, you should seek shelter immediately. If there are no buildings available, get into a vehicle with a hard metal top and close the windows.
Sheds, pavilions, tents or covered porches won’t provide adequate shelter.
Stay away from tall things like lifeguard stands, light poles or flag poles, and avoid metal objects like metal rails, fences or bleachers.
Malphurs says her agency is monitoring storm systems, and beachgoers should take their cues from lifeguards.
“We tell them when a storm is coming, we tell them ‘OK, we’re on red light conditions,’ they’ll whistle people out of the water, they’ll see the lifeguard trucks coming up and down the beach with their lights on,” Malphurs said.