Fishing Leads U.S. Lightening Death Activities

The National Weather Service reports that more people die from lightening strikes while fishing than any other activity.

A new National Weather Service study reports that more people die from lightening strikes in the U.S. while fishing than while engaging in other activities. The report studied 238 lightening-induced deaths in the U.S. from 2006 to 2012. The report shows that the majority of lightening strike deaths (152 of 238) occurred during leisure activities.

The report, which was authored by John S. Jensenius, Jr., a Lightening Safety Specialist with NOAA’s National Weather Service, reports that “The common belief that golfers are responsible for the greatest number of lightning deaths was shown to be a myth. During this 7-year period fishermen accounted for more than three times as many fatalities as golfers, while camping and boating each accounted for almost twice as many deaths as golf. From 2006 to 2012, there were a total of 26 fishing deaths, 15 camping deaths, and 14 boating deaths, and 11 beach deaths. Of the sports activities, soccer saw the greatest number of deaths with 12, as compared to golf with 8. Around the home, yard work (including mowing the lawn) accounted for 12 fatalities. For work-related activities, ranching/farming topped the list with 11 deaths.”

The report continues to explain that “Males accounted for 82% of all fatalities, and more than 90 % of the deaths in the fishing and sports categories. Females had comparatively fewer deaths than men in every category, with their highest percentages in the boating-related activities (35%) and routine daily/weekly activities (35%).”

The report also shows that about 70% of the deaths occurred in June, July, and August, with Saturdays and Sundays having slightly more deaths than other days of the week.