Man killed by lightning while riding personal watercraft in Florida, deputies say

Tony Marrero, Tampa Bay Times on Aug 31, 2026

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TAMPA, Fla. — A man died Saturday after lightning struck him while he was riding a personal watercraft at Fort De Soto Park, deputies said.

Deputies responded about 6:35 p.m. for a call about a man who had been struck by lightning while riding a personal watercraft at the park at 3500 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

The man, 41-year-old Steve Matheson of Saratoga Springs, Utah, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Matheson was a married father of four, according to a GoFundMe page created to raise money for funeral costs and other expenses.

Matheson was the fifth person to be fatally struck by lightning in Florida this year and the 13th in the United States, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.

The most recent Florida deaths were a mother and her 2-year-old daughter, who were struck on a sidewalk in Margate on Aug. 23.

The safety council notes that if you hear thunder, even if it sounds far away, you are at risk of being struck and should seek shelter.

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