[houseoftechno]

(Sorry, no death vids or pics)

Two Hunters and Their Dogs Were Killed by Lightning in Florida, Officials Say
The bodies of the two hunters and their two hunting dogs were found along a canal near Lake Okeechobee

By Dac Collins
Published Sep 26, 2025 11:45 AM EDT
​https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival...ning/​​​

Two hunters and their hunting dogs were found dead near the water in Highlands County, Florida on Wednesday afternoon. An initial investigation showed that both men and their two dogs died from an apparent lightning strike sometime after 8 p.m. on Monday, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.


The two men, identified by the HCSO as 38-year-old Alexander Karl Getz and 31-year-old Peter James Kaminsky, were both from Miami. HCSO says officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission had been searching for the two men after they failed to return home from hunting. It’s unclear how long they had been missing for.

FWC officers found the bodies on a levee next to Canal C-41A in the area of Rucks Dairy Road, according to the statement from the sheriff’s office. It is one of many canals located off the Kissimmee River near where the river dumps into Lake Okeechobee.

HCSO says that while the initial investigation indicated a lightning strike, a medical examiner is still working to determine the official cause and time of death.

Although neither agency has provided additional details about the two men and their dogs, they were likely hunting or scouting for ducks along the canal when a thunderstorm rolled in. Florida’s early teal season opened Saturday and ran through Wednesday. Past weather data for Okeechobee shows that a heavy thunderstorm moved into the area sometime around 8 p.m. Monday, bringing rain and lightning that continued until after 10 pm.

“Our area gets more lightning than just about anywhere else in the country, especially in the summer. If you can hear thunder, that means lightning is close enough to strike, even if the sky doesn’t look too bad yet,” HCSO Sheriff Paul Blackman said Thursday. “It is essential to pay attention and plan ahead when storms approach.”

The timing of the fatal lightning strike in Florida is unsettling for some in the outdoors community, who are still mourning the loss of two young men who were killed by lightning while elk hunting in Colorado earlier this month. The coroner who examined the bodies in that case said the two men were not struck directly by lightning, but were close enough to the strike to be electrocuted nonetheless.

These deaths have also been tragic reminders of the danger of lighting, which is a risk for outdoorsmen all across the country — from the marshes to the mountains. In light of the incident in Colorado, search-and-rescue experts have re-shared advice about how to manage this risk if you are unable to seek shelter indoors or in a car with a hard roof.

“Don’t stand under trees, in open fields or go near bodies of water,” the HCSO advises, “as those spots are lightning magnets.”

[kellyhound]

Peter: Three years ago.
Charges:
1 Felony Count(s) of 893.13.6a MARIJUANA-POSSESS
1 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 843.02 RESIST OFFICER
2 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 893.147.1 DRUG EQUIP-POSSESS
https://monroefl.mugshots.zone/stans...ot-06-02-2022/

[houseoftechno]

[William May]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Peter: Three years ago.
Charges:
1 Felony Count(s) of 893.13.6a MARIJUANA-POSSESS
1 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 843.02 RESIST OFFICER
2 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 893.147.1 DRUG EQUIP-POSSESS
https://monroefl.mugshots.zone/stans...ot-06-02-2022/

I'm SURE he doesn't look like that NOW! For one thing, his eyes are closed now.

[houseoftechno]

Interesting trends...

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by houseoftechno ↗

Interesting trends...

The first national lightning safety awareness campaign was initiated by the National Weather Service and NLSC in 2001.

On the decline since then, the lowest fatality count was 2021, when only 11 lightning-related deaths were recorded.

People get smarter and the use of cellphones and checking weather apps increased. Don't go to the beach or fishing, play soccer/football and camping is well-known by now.

Also news articles about lightning strikes deaths makes people more aware i guess.

Last 7 years there were more lightning strikes counted but lesser deaths. Most in Texas and Florida. A lot of elderly people nowadays use a cellphone and know how to use it.

Maybe humanity is getting smarter

[akham]

Originally Posted by houseoftechno ↗

Interesting trends...

Very enlightening.

That first graph tells me that the population is becoming more insular every year.

[akham]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

On the decline since then, the lowest fatality count was 2021, when only 11 lightning-related deaths were recorded.

OK, I have to ask.

Did anyone get hit twice? I'm testing a theory.

Last 7 years there were more lightning strikes counted but lesser deaths. Most in Texas and Florida. A lot of elderly people nowadays use a cellphone and know how to use it.

Maybe humanity is getting smarter

Not in Florida they're not. They're all whackjobs. Ever notice that most of the body camera videos on YT come from Florida.

Its lucky that nobody associated with this site lives there.

( )

[houseoftechno]

Originally Posted by akham ↗

Very enlightening.

That first graph tells me that the population is becoming more insular every year.

I thought so too. That's why I looked up the second graph, which shows outdoor activity increased 20% in the last 10 years.

[pervM]

Reminds me of a documentary I watched of nature conservationist job in the Alps, couple of dudes bringing hay to local deer, shooting the sickly ones, that sort of thing. There was a section of thunderstorms in the mountain range and the footage showed just how low the thunder clouds were in the valleys. Imagine being enveloped inside a thunder cloud during a storm.