Utah father dies after lightning strike while rescuing boaters off Florida coast

While jet-skiing off Fort de Soto, Steve Matheson and a companion saw a broken-down boat and chose to aid the sailors even as a storm gathered. The worsening weather placed Matheson directly under a lightning strike, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His cousin Marianne Matheson Shuman described his final moments as still focused on helping strangers.

Matheson leaves a wife, Abbie, and four children, and was celebrated by friends for his deep faith, love of family, and willingness to assist others. He was a longtime fan of Brigham Young University football and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lightning Safety Council noted his death as the 13th lightning-related fatality in the United States this year.