Father-of-four dies after being struck by lightning while riding jet ski

Father-of-four dies after being struck by lightning while riding jet ski As lightning is more likely to strike the tallest objects of a horizon, activities such as jet-skiing or boating out on the can lead to a higher chance of lightning strike A father of four has died after he was struck by lightning while riding a jet ski. American dad Steve Matheson, 47, was struck by the electric bolt while in the water off the Florida coast in Fort De Soto Park, Petersburg, around 6.30pm on Saturday. As per the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the dad from Saratoga Springs, Utah, was rushed to hospital after the shock incident, but later died despite the best efforts of medical staff. Speaking to USA Today, National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Molleda said: “It's usually the first lightning strikes that tend to be the most dangerous because people may not be aware what's coming even if the sky is starting to look dark and threatening. 'The storms in the summer develop very quickly. That first rumble of thunder might be too late.” A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Matheson family as they struggle to navigate the shock loss of the husband and father. As per organiser April Beck, funds will of to support his wife and children and to repatriate his body back to Utah for a proper funeral surrounded by friends and loved ones. The fundraiser describes him as “a wonderful man, devoted husband, and loving father.” “His family was his greatest joy, and he cherished every moment he was able to spend with them. He was the kind of husband and father who loved deeply, showed up fully, and made his family the centre of his world,” the fundraiser reads. Friends, family, loved ones, and strangers have raised over £47,858 in only two days to help the family, with many taking to the comments to express their condolences. One commented: “We'll miss you Steve, you'll always be our football brother.” A second added: “We love you so much, Steve & Abbie. I hope to have the strength to live like you. I miss you and will do all we can to help your family.” A third wrote: “Praying for your family during this unimaginable loss.” Matheson's death is the 13th lightning death in the US this year and the third deadly strike in Florida in less than a week. Mum Kenya Glasgow, 31, and her two-year-old daughter were stuck down by a bolt of lightning in Margate city on August 23. Her husband recounted sitting in the car with the couple’s other daughter when he saw his wife struck by a flash of bright light. “I got the actual aftershock from the ground. By the grace of God, I'm still here as well,” he said, adding it was “the worst feeling in the world”. Later that day, a child was rushed to A&E after they were also struck by a bolt of lightning near Boynton Beach. As per the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida is known as the 'lightning capital' of the US. The so-called Sunshine State has recorded over 2,000 lightning related injuries in the past half a century. Although about 37 million bolts of lightning hit the ground in the US each year, the odds of being struck are less than one in a million. Victim data has shown that only 10 percent of such incidents are fatal, despite a typical lightning strike carrying about 300 million volts of electricity. As per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, studies have found that top three activities that have previously lead to lightning-related deaths are boating, fishing, and camping. As lightning is more likely to strike the tallest objects of a horizon, activities such as jet-skiing or boating out on the can lead to a higher chance of lightning strike.