A Utah father known for putting others first died after he was struck by lightning while trying to help stranded boaters off Florida’s coast, his family said.
Steve Matheson, 47, was riding a jet ski with a friend near Fort De Soto shortly before 6:35 p.m. Saturday when they came across a boat that had broken down, according to ABC affiliate KTVX.
The father of four had been heading back toward shore as storm clouds gathered, but he stopped when he realized the people aboard the disabled vessel were in trouble and needed assistance.
As Matheson tried to help, the storm quickly moved in, closing the distance until it was nearly directly over him, his cousin, Marianne Matheson Shuman, told the station.
“The lightning took him pretty quickly,” she said.
“Even in his last moments he was helping and serving strangers,” she added, paying tribute to her late relative.
“He would have it no other way.”
Matheson died of his injuries after being rushed to a local hospital.
He leaves behind his wife, Abbie, and their four children. Tributes have been paid to the “devoted husband and loving father,” who was also a diehard Brigham Young University Cougars football fan.
“His family was his greatest joy, and he cherished every moment he was able to spend with them,” his friend, April Beck, said.
“He was the kind of husband and father who loved deeply, showed up fully, and made his family the center of his world.
“Steve also had a strong and unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father and his Savior, Jesus Christ.
“As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his faith was an important part of who he was and how he lived his life. His love for his family and his faith were evident in the way he treated others and the life he chose to live.”
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Matheson was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to help those in need.
His friend, Mitch Faas, recalled how Matheson was the first person to respond when he needed help moving fireworks ahead of the Pioneer Day holiday – a celebration marking the arrival of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers that settled in the Salt Lake Valley region.
“He showed up with his oldest son and jumped right in, just like he had for our shows over the last several years,” Faas said.
Faas revealed the last text he sent to Matheson was, “Thanks for always being someone I can count on bud.”
“Always brotha,” Matheson replied. “We appreciate you and are always willing to help.”
Aaron Boone, another one of Matheson’s pals left devastated by the tragedy, said the pair were supposed to play flag football together before recalling a heartwarming memory of the selfless dad.
“We shared a love for competition and football, but more importantly, a strong faith, a love for our families, and a soft spot for kids,” he wrote Monday.
“One thing I’ll always remember about Steve says a lot about the kind of guy he was.
“His dad used to come watch him play flag football all the time. After his dad passed away a couple of years ago, Steve kind of took my father under his wing at the games, almost as if he were his own dad.
“He always made a point to sit with him, make sure he was comfortable, talk with him, and visit before, during, and after the games.”
Matheson’s death marks the 13th lightning strike fatality in the US this year, according to the Lightning Safety Council.
His death came six days after Kennedi Glasgow, 2, and her 31-year-old mom, Kenya Glasgow, were killed in a freak lightning strike in Margate, Fla, in front of their family.