[Sharky]

Lightning Hits Diver's Air Tank, Kills Him
Man Was Diving With Three Others

POSTED: 8:55 am EDT July 23, 2007
UPDATED: 11:33 am EDT July 23, 2007

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. -- Lightning struck a diver's air tank as he surfaced off Florida's Atlantic coast, killing him, authorities said.

Stephen Wilson, 36, 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.

 

[Sharky]

I have been down for an hour and upon surfacing a storm in FL blew in off the east coast, boyton beach.

Man the luck of some things......... In FL a storm advisory like this one happens often and usually you dont have alot of warning time. Sucks.....

 

[USMC - Retired]

My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

 

[Cavediver]

Several folks from the cave diving clan have felt lightning strikes while underground, 1/4 mile or more from the entrance, 60+feet deep! I'd guess that lightning is probably more dangerous than the alligators...

 

[M249]

That's got to suck. I've never dove in Florida, but when I lived in Dunedin, I remember the storms blowing in very fast.

My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

http://www.georgiakayakfishing.com

Several folks from the cave diving clan have felt lightning strikes while underground, 1/4 mile or more from the entrance, 60+feet deep! I'd guess that lightning is probably more dangerous than the alligators...

Holy... as if I didn't think cave divers were nuts enough. :wink:

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

And here I have been considering taking my son down the Flint River.

 

[USMC - Retired]

[quote="USMC - Retired":3jygeg1q]My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

And here I have been considering taking my son down the Flint River.[/quote:3jygeg1q]

maybe the upper flint moves a little faster...

 

[Adam5]

My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

If I'm paddling on a river, I prefer fast running white water. :twisted: Put me in a raft with a few adrenaline junkies, put us on a class IV-VI river, and I'll be in high heaven.

 

[Adam5]

[quote="USMC - Retired":1p8vfmp9]My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

And here I have been considering taking my son down the Flint River.[/quote:1p8vfmp9]

If you're looking for a good river for young kids with a few small rapids and one class III at the end, I would suggest the Nanthahala in NC.

 

[ptsmith24]

[quote="USMC - Retired":3qe1deg4]My son and I were canoeing the Flint River a few weeks ago and a storm came out of nowhere. So here we are sitting on a river in an aluminum canoe soaking wet holding aluminum handled paddles. Needless to say we hit the closest bank and pulled out till it passed. Coulda be real ugly! By the way, don't let anyone tell you the Flint is a river. It's a lake, a really long near currentless lake and I can't prove it, but I'd swear some of it is uphill! :shock: We did 14.5 miles in about 8 hours and my arms felt like they were about to fall off when we got done!

And here I have been considering taking my son down the Flint River.

If you're looking for a good river for young kids with a few small rapids and one class III at the end, I would suggest the Nanthahala in NC.[/quote:3qe1deg4]

:righton:

Been down that river several times. My dad has a house about 15 minutes from there. In fact, I'll be at his house this Thursday-Sunday.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

If you're looking for a good river for young kids with a few small rapids and one class III at the end, I would suggest the Nanthahala in NC.

Do they have a service that allows 6 year olds? :?

 

[ptsmith24]

If you're looking for a good river for young kids with a few small rapids and one class III at the end, I would suggest the Nanthahala in NC.

Do they have a service that allows 6 year olds? :?

http://www.noc.com/Rafting

Says 7 years / 60 lbs. Not sure if the "/" is an "and" or an "or".

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

Thanks! It is 60 pounds regardless of age.

 

[USMC - Retired]

Thanks! It is 60 pounds regardless of age.

So I guess Super Models are out of luck... :lol:

 

[ptsmith24]

[quote="Malum Prohibitum":3ap14bqi]Thanks! It is 60 pounds regardless of age.

So I guess Super Models are out of luck... :lol:[/quote:3ap14bqi]

:lol: