Lightning strikes divers tank as he surfaced

[lotsofgadgets]

Just saw this on the Star Tribune webpage



Lightning struck a diver's oxygen tank as he surfaced off Florida's Atlantic coast, killing him, authorities said.

The 36-year-old man was diving with three others Sunday off a boat near Deerfield Beach, about 40 miles north of Miami. He had surfaced about 30 feet from the boat when lightning struck his tank, said Deerfield Beach Fire Chief Gary Fernaays.

The other divers struggled to get the man back into the boat and radioed for help, Fernaays said. The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was rushed to the beach, where a rescue crew gave him CPR. He was later pronounced dead at North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach.

A severe thunderstorm warning had been in effect Sunday for Broward County.

The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office planned an autopsy to determine if the man died by electrocution or drowned.

[AngelFire91]

I read this last night, I think what's funny is the part:

The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office planned an autopsy to determine if the man died by electrocution or drowned.

Ummm. Maybe he drowned because he was electrocuted??? Just a thought.

[Kingpatzer]

Like it matters . . . sheesh, the cause of death is really bad luck any way you slice it!

[VintageDiverMN]

Was that an air tank or oxygen tank?

[WeatherPaparazzi]

Wow, a topic I can talk about from my years of storm chasing...  lol 

My guess, the diver died from both.  Lightning will pretty much boil your brain in your skull and rewire your whole nervious system if you live to talk about it. 

It is just bad luck all around and considering that when the lightning hits you, it looks for a the fastest way to ground out, being in the water when struck would cause the lightning to not just discharge from one point like a bullet but more like a plasma lamp where you would have sparks coming off in all directions in the water.  That would really cook your CNS in about 3.5 seconds, or less. 

Doug