Hong Kong canoeist dies from lightning strike while swimming to passing boat, as city records hail and stormy weather
- The man and his wife were trapped on Green Egg Island off Clear Water Bay Country Park, and he mistook a passing boat for a rescue vessel
- Hailstones ‘as big as 50-cent coin’ observed, a first in five years for the weather phenomenon, as thunderstorms sweep across some parts of city
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A canoeist trapped with his wife on an island in Hong Kong waters on Thursday died after being struck by lightning while swimming towards a boat to seek help.
The incident happened about an hour after hail was seen in Hong Kong for the first time in five years, as severe thunderstorms swept through some parts of the city. More than 3,000 lightning strikes were recorded between noon and 3pm.
The 45-year-old man and his wife went canoeing from Sheung Sze Wan in Sai Kung to Green Egg Island off Clear Water Bay Country Park at about 10.30am.
The pair sought shelter on Green Egg Island because of the heavy rain and strong winds about an hour later, according to police.
“The man thought that a passing boat had come to pick them up, and he then swam towards it, but was struck by lightning [shortly before 2pm],” a police source said.