A married father of four visiting Florida was fatally struck by lightning while on a jet ski, authorities said.
Steve Matheson was struck while on the jet ski in waters south off St. Petersburg about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 29, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities have not released additional details on the incident. This was the third deadly lightning strike in Florida in less than a week.
GoFundMe set up for man struck by lightning on jet ski in Florida
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Matheson’s wife and children, and to return his body to his home state of Utah.
He was described as a “wonderful man, devoted husband and loving father,” according to the GoFundMe, which raised more than $30,000 by Aug. 31.
“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 center of his world. Second place to that would be his love for football, especially BYU football,” the GoFundMe stated. “Steve also had a strong and unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father and his Savior, Jesus Christ. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his faith was an important part of who he was and how he lived his life. His love for his family and his faith were evident in the way he treated others and the life he chose to live.”
Third deadly lightning strike in Florida in less than a week
Matheson’s death is the third deadly lightning strike in Florida in less than a week.
Kenya Glasgow, 31, and her 2-year-old twin daughter were struck dead by lightning Aug. 23 outside a relative’s home in Margate. Glasgow’s husband was feet away from his wife and daughter when they were struck. Their other 2-year-old daughter was still in their vehicle.
That same day, paramedics took a child to a trauma center after receiving a 911 call saying a person had been struck by lightning near Boynton Beach
Florida top spot for lightning fatalities
Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths with 100 reported from 2006 through 2025, according to the National Lightning Safety Council. Texas had the second highest number of fatalities at 44, followed by Colorado’s 27.
In Florida last year, four people suffered lightning-related fatalities between June 14 and Sept 22. They died at the beach, while fishing, and on a hunting trip.
The year before, six people died in Florida after lightning strikes. All but one happened between June and mid-September as people sat under a tree in a park, swam at the beach and rode bikes through a neighborhood.
Nationwide, the top three activities that lead to lightning-related deaths from 2006 through 2025 are fishing, being at the beach and boating. Of the top 12, golf is ranked 11, just ahead of doing yard work.
While lightning is not attracted to any specific material — a persistent myth is that it seeks out metal — it is more likely to strike taller objects, making someone in a field, on a boat or beach, repairing a roof or on an open highway more exposed.
Kimberly Miller with USA TODAY NETWORK contributed to this report.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Father of four fatally struck by lightning while on jet ski in Florida
