Carson Zorn
•7/4/2026
The identity of the man who died after a lightning strike on Fort Myers Beach on Friday has been revealed.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, 51-year-old Viktar Kiryk was identified as the victim who died in the lightning strike. LCSO said that Kiryk was in the water with three other family members at the time of the incident.
The three family members are in stable condition at a local hospital, according to LCSO.
Crews responded to the scene in the 6500 block of Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach at around 2:20 p.m. on Friday. A bystander had deployed an AED and was performing CPR when crews arrived.
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Kiryk family during this unimaginable time," LCSO said. "We are also grateful to the bystanders and first responders who rushed in to help without hesitation."
LCSO said the incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder that Florida's summer storms can develop rapidly, and that anyone who hears thunder or sees lightning should get out of the water immediately and seek shelter.