Lightning Strike Deaths: Fishermen Most at Risk

By Senior Field Editor Linda Hersey

The vast majority of lightning strike victims are men – 82 percent. 

Of the 152 lightning deaths that occurred while the victim was participating in a leisure activity, fishing tops the list, according to 2006-2012 statistics.

These are just some of the findings released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as it warns the public about staying away from the water during lightning and thunderstorms.

It may come as no surprise that water-related activities – which include fishing, boating, beach, and swimming – account for more than a third of leisure-related deaths due to lightning strikes, according to the National Weather Service. Fishing tops that list.

“People often wait far too long to head to safety when a storm is approaching, and that puts them in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation,” said John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service.

Lightning can strike from as far away as 10 miles. So a storm that may seem in the distance can actually put people at risk.

The best advice to follow is that if you can hear thunder, you're close enough to a storm to be struck by lightning. Go indoors!

To read more about lightning-strike risks and fatalities, see Fishermen, Boaters Urged to Seek Shelter During Thunderstorms, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.