Recent deaths highlight the danger of fishing during lightning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — At least two lightning deaths have been reported in the U.S. in the last two weeks and both incidents were related to fishing.
The first lightning-related death took place on April 11 in Jacksonville, North Carolina. A 39-year-old man was reportedly struck by lightning while fishing from a boat with his son and friends. He later died as a result of the incident.
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Meanwhile, the second death took place on April 22 when a 68-year-old man was reportedly fishing from a boat on a reservoir in Rankin County, Mississippi when he was struck and killed by lightning.
The incidents are a stark reminder of the dangers of lightning while out on a boat.
'Fishing is the activity that leads to the most lighting deaths in the United States,' said Johnson Jensenius, a lightning specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council. 'In fact, since 2006, we have now seen 44 lightning deaths related to fishing activities. Boating also leads to quite a few fatalities. We've seen 25 fatalities for boating. So, between fishing and boating, a total of 69 fatalities since 2006.'
'The most important thing to know is that if you are going out on a boat, you should monitor weather conditions before you go out,' Jensenius advised.
If storms in the forecast, consider canceling or postponing the activity. If you do go out, monitor weather conditions, keep an eye on the sky, and if you hear thunder, you need to get to a safe place right away.
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Keep in mind when you are out there, you do need to account for the amount of time it's going to take you to get back and to get into a safe place.
'You can only hear lightning about ten miles out from a storm, and lightning can strike outward ten miles,' Jensenius explained. 'So, if you are hearing thunder, even a distant rumble, you are within striking distance of the storm. People often wait too long to get to safety, and that puts them in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.'
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Take advantage of modern technology. Have an app on your phone that monitors radar and lightning data. Our News 2 Weather App will notify you when lightning is in your area.
So, let's have a safe fishing season, and when the thunder roars, get off of the lake and indoors.
Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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