U.S. Diver Dies After Lightning Hits Air Tank

DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida: A 36-year-old diver was killed off a Florida beach after lightning struck his air tank, authorities said.<br/><br/>The man, whose name was not immediately released, was diving

Wednesday, July 25th 2007, 4:52 am

By: News On 6

DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida: A 36-year-old diver was killed off a Florida beach after lightning struck his air tank, authorities said.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, was diving with three others off a boat near Deerfield Beach on Sunday.

When he surfaced, "lighting struck his tank," said Deerfield Beach fire Chief Gary Fernaays. "He was approximately 30 feet from the boat at the time."

The three other divers struggled to get the man back into the boat and radioed for help. The man was then rushed to the beach where a rescue crew was waiting. He was given CPR and taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, Fernaays said.

An autopsy was planned to determine if he died by electrocution or drowning.