Key facts
- An 18-year-old kayaker died after being struck by lightning.
- The incident occurred on the Blackwater River in Santa Rosa County, Florida.
- The victim's father witnessed the lightning strike.
- This is the second reported lightning death in the US in 2026.
An 18-year-old kayaker, Michael Aidan Vargas, died after being struck by lightning while on the Blackwater River in Santa Rosa County, Florida. His father witnessed the event, which reportedly tossed him out of his boat. This incident is the second reported death due to lightning in the United States in 2026.