Lightning Strikes Jet Skier During Florida Outing

A Utah father riding a jet ski near Fort De Soto was struck by lightning and later died, authorities said.

Story Highlights

Deputies responded around 6:30 p.m. to a lightning strike near Fort De Soto, Florida.
The victim was identified as Steve Matheson of Utah, a married father of four.
First responders took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Florida again leads lightning deaths as storms target outdoor recreation spots.

Deputies Report Lightning Strike Near Fort De Soto

Pinellas County deputies said they responded near Fort De Soto at about 6:30 p.m. after a report that a jet skier had been hit by lightning. Local outlets cited the sheriff’s office in early accounts of the call and response. Reporters described the location as near Fort De Soto or within Fort De Soto Park on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The descriptions differ in phrasing but point to the same general area of open water and shoreline used by boaters and riders.

First responders reached the scene and took the victim to a nearby hospital. Reporters said the man was in life-threatening condition during transport and was later pronounced dead. The early sequence appeared in several local reports. Authorities did not release detailed medical information. The timeline and outcome were consistent across the outlets that referenced the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency crews who handled the call and the transport.

Victim Identified As Utah Husband And Father

Reporters identified the victim as Steve Matheson of Utah. The Tampa Bay Times said Matheson was 41 and from Saratoga Springs. Other outlets repeated his name and Utah residence. A family fundraiser page described him as a married father of four and said he died on a Saturday while riding a jet ski off Florida’s coast. The identity and family details came from local reporting and the fundraiser notice, which family friends posted after the tragedy.

Coverage across stations and papers agreed that the incident involved a personal watercraft near Fort De Soto Park. Some stories used “jet ski” while others used the broader term “personal watercraft.” The accounts matched on the core facts of a sudden lightning strike, a rescue effort, and a fatal outcome at a local hospital. Outlets did not publish the full police incident report or a coroner document in those first stories, which limited added medical or forensic detail.

Storm Activity And Lightning Risk In Florida

Weather reporting pointed to strong lightning in the area during the evening window. AccuWeather said hundreds of lightning flashes were detected near Fort De Soto between 6:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., including many cloud-to-ground strikes. That activity lines up with the time deputies were dispatched to the scene. Florida’s warm-season storms often build fast, and boaters and riders on open water face high exposure when strikes begin to fire nearby.

REST IN PEACE: Steve Matheson, a father of four, was killed after being struck by lightning near Fort DeSoto Saturday evening. https://t.co/ialOgi44kQ pic.twitter.com/RNBLxZMFLG

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) August 31, 2026

Florida has led the nation in lightning deaths for decades. National Weather Service and research summaries show the state records more lightning fatalities than any other, with the most danger in outdoor recreation and open areas. Men make up the large majority of victims. Studies and past tallies show steady risk around beaches, fields, and water, where people are far from shelter and storms can move in quickly with little warning to those focused on recreation.

What Authorities And Families Emphasize After Tragedies Like This

Local officials and safety groups urge simple steps that save lives. People on the water should check radar before heading out and set clear cutoffs for returning to shore at the first sign of thunder. Riders should identify the closest safe shelter on land, not under a tree or in an open pavilion. Families affected by these losses often ask others to learn storm cues and plan exits. Those habits help cut the odds in a state where lightning is a regular summer threat.

Community Response And Next Steps

Community members and friends rallied around the Matheson family with messages and donations. The fundraiser page shared basic biographical details and funeral planning notes while thanking first responders. Officials commonly release fuller records later, including formal incident narratives. In the meantime, local reporting has focused on the facts that are not in dispute: a lightning strike hit a man riding a personal watercraft near Fort De Soto, rescuers acted fast, and the victim died at a hospital.