Fisherman Dies After Suspected Lightning Strike Off Tseung Kwan O
HKFP · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A 67-year-old fisherman died after his sampan was suspected of being struck by lightning off the coast of Tseung Kwan O during a severe rainstorm on Thursday. The man, surnamed Sin, was found unconscious on his vessel near the Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link, with police receiving a report at 9:14am while the red rainstorm warning signal was in effect . Rescuers brought him ashore at the Tseung Kwan O South Landing Steps and transported him to Tseung Kwan O Hospital for emergency treatment, where he was certified dead shortly after 11am . Police told HKFP that the victim had "multiple injuries all over the body" and that a lightning strike was suspected . An autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death .
Key Points
- The 67-year-old victim, surnamed Sin, was found unconscious aboard his sampan near the Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link during a red rainstorm warning
- Police received a report at 9:14am from a person on a passing boat who spotted the unconscious man on the sampan
- The victim was transported to Tseung Kwan O Hospital and certified dead shortly after 11am, with multiple injuries consistent with lightning strike
- The red rainstorm warning was hoisted at 5:05am, downgraded to amber at 9:20am, and cancelled at 10:15am
- More than 5,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were recorded between Wednesday night and Thursday noon across Hong Kong
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the extreme weather conditions that Hong Kong experienced during Thursday's storm, with the astronomical number of lightning strikes posing serious risks to outdoor workers and residents . The tragedy follows a similar incident in June when a 59-year-old hiker was struck by lightning while ascending Lantau Peak, underscoring the need for public awareness about lightning safety during severe weather events .
This incident highlights the extreme weather conditions that Hong Kong experienced during Thursday's storm, with the astronomical number of lightning strikes posing serious risks to outdoor workers and residents . The tragedy follows a similar incident in June when a 59-year-old hiker was struck by lightning while ascending Lantau Peak, underscoring the need for public awareness about lightning safety during severe weather events .