Father Killed by Lightning While Helping Stranded Boaters in Florida

A Utah father, Steve Matheson, has died after being struck by lightning while helping stranded boaters off the coast of Florida, his family said.

Steve, 47, was jet skiing with a friend near Fort De Soto just before 6:35 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, when they spotted a broken-down boat.

The pair had been heading toward shore as a storm approached, but Matheson stopped to help the boaters after realising they were in trouble.

As the storm closed in, lightning struck him before he could reach safety.

His cousin, Marianne Matheson Shuman, said the strike happened suddenly.

"The lightning took him pretty quickly," she said.

She said the moment reflected who he was as a person.

"Even in his last moments he was helping and serving strangers," she said. "He would have it no other way."

Matheson was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

He is survived by his wife, Abbie, and their four children.

Friends and family have since paid tribute to him as a devoted husband and father.

His friend, April Beck, described the depth of his commitment to his family.

"His family was his greatest joy, and he cherished every moment he was able to spend with them," she said.

"He was the kind of husband and father who loved deeply, showed up fully, and made his family the center of his world."

Beck also spoke of his faith, which she said shaped how he lived.

"Steve also had a strong and unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father and his Savior, Jesus Christ," she said.

"As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his faith was an important part of who he was and how he lived his life. His love for his family and his faith were evident in the way he treated others and the life he chose to live."