Pictured: Brit who was killed by lightning strike while paddleboarding in Rhodes
Pictured: Brit who was killed by lightning strike while paddleboarding ‘while his girlfriend filmed him’ in Rhodes – as friends say his family are ‘heartbroken’
- Scott Aaron Seddon, 26, died yesterday afternoon on a beach in Rhodes, Greece
- Mr Seddon was paddleboarding in the sea when he was struck by lightning
A British tourist who died after being struck by lightning while his girlfriend reportedly filmed him paddleboarding in Greece has been pictured.
Greek officials named the tourist as Scott Aaron Seddon, 26, who died on Monday afternoon after he was electrocuted in the Agia Agathi area of Rhodes, Greece.
Close friends of Mr Seddon said that his father was ‘heartbroken and distraught over his son’s death’.
The keen sportsman, who had trained to be a civil engineer and worked in the building trade, spoke Greek and was a regular to the family’s holiday home.
A family friend told MailOnline: ‘I spoke to his dad and he told me Scott had been electrocuted.
Scott Aaron Seddon (pictured) died after being struck by lightning while his girlfriend filmed him paddleboarding in Greece
Mr Seddon (pictured) was said to have been pulled out of the water by those on the beach and was ‘still alive’, according to witnesses
‘He said he was distraught. Steve couldn’t say any more. He’s heartbroken.’
He added: ‘His sister flew out there last night to be with the rest of the family. Scott was a lovely guy and really popular.
‘He used to live in Greece with the family and spoke Greek. He loved it there but now they go and visit there holiday home there and live back here now.’
Mr Seddon died at the scene despite attempts by his girlfriend, a Brazilian resident and emergency services to save him.
Brazilian Wander Machado, 47, told Greek news outlet Rodiaki: ‘I swam to get him out. But once I reached the board, I saw his body crouched over and face down on the board. His face had turned purple.
‘I immediately knew that every second was crucial and started pulling him to the shore.’
It is understood that other tourists had urged the man to leave the water when he encountered difficulties at around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST).
His girlfriend and other beachgoers reportedly started calling for help after he was struck by lightning.
Beachgoers and emergency services desperately tried to save Mr Seddon’s life (pictured surfing in July 2021) but they were unable to revive him
Mr Seddon (pictured) passed away after an ambulance and medics arrived and was later taken to Archangelos Health Centre
It is understood that other tourists had urged the man to leave the water when he encountered difficulties at around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST). Pictured: Agia Agathi
He was then pulled out of the water by those on the beach and was ‘still alive’, according to witnesses.
But he passed away after an ambulance and medics arrived and was later taken to Archangelos Health Centre.
Mr Machado added: ‘I was worried that the same thing would happen to me as it was still raining but I didn’t stop.
‘The rescuers arrived shortly afterwards and performed all the resuscitation procedures to keep him alive. Unfortunately, I found out a little later that he didn’t make it.’
An investigation by the Central Port Authority of Rhodes has been launched, according to Rodiaki.
An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Rhodes and are in contact with local authorities.’