Struck by lightning while at sea, authorities in the Turks and Caicos have confirmed the death of a 56-year-old man on Monday (May 2).

According to preliminary reports, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force were alerted to a distress signal in the Pine Cay area around 2:00 pm.

The yet-to-be-identified man, among a group of three on a boat, was found unconscious and unresponsive following the maritime lightning strike.

“At about 3:15 pm, the boat containing the victim and two other men was towed to the Blue Haven Marina. Emergency medical services were at the location awaiting the arrival of the victim. The emergency medical technician observed that the male victim appeared to be lifeless. A medical doctor attended the scene and pronounced the victim dead at 3:19 pm. The matter has been referred to the HM Coroner,” the police statement detailed.