SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WDNews) — A 20-year-old Crestview man died after being struck by lightning while kayaking on the Blackwater River, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
FWC said officers were notified of a missing kayaker at approximately 12:25 p.m. on May 31.
Authorities identified the victim as Michael Aiden Vargas, 20, of Crestview. According to FWC, Vargas was kayaking on the Blackwater River when he was struck by lightning and fell from his vessel.
FWC said Vargas’ father and employees with Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation witnessed the incident and immediately began searching for him.
Multiple agencies assisted in the search effort, including the FWC Dive Team, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, and Daphne Search and Rescue.
According to FWC, Vargas was later recovered from the water and pronounced dead.
Officials said the case remains under active investigation, and no additional information has been released.
