Two teens went on a fishing trip. They were killed and reportedly struck by lightning.
Two southeastern Georgia teens were killed while fishing, according to officials. Their cause of death is reportedly from being struck by lightning.
The teens' family members found them unresponsive just after 10 p.m. on July 10, the Ware County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. The family members tried to save the teens and called for help around 10:16 p.m., the sheriff's office said. The teens were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ware County Detectives called the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to process the scene and investigate the case.
The teens, 18-year-old Joey Nelson and 19-year-old Randall Martin III, were fishing in a pond in an open field in Waresboro on July 10 when they were struck by lightning, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
The teens were standing outside their car near a body of water when a lightning bolt struck them, reported FOX 5 Atlanta.
Teens were beloved football players
Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James said in a statement that the teens died after being struck by lightning during a summer storm. The mayor also stated that the teens' deaths are a “tragic loss” for the community.
According to James, the teens had just graduated from Ware County High School and played on the Ware County Gators football team.
“Their dedication to the sport, unwavering team spirit, and infectious energy left a lasting impression on teammates, coaches, and the broader Waycross community,” James wrote. One of the teens, Joey, was the grand-nephew of City Clerk Jacqualine Powell.
Community comes together for teens
Community members started fundraisers for both Joey and Randall. As of July 14, community members have raised just over $3,000 for Randall, and over $9,500 for Joey.
Tanijah Martin, who organized a fundraiser for Randall, said the teen was called Bubba. He died doing what he loved – fishing, Martin said, adding that his family needs help covering the cost of funeral arrangements.
Leighshan Thompson organized the fundraiser for Joey, who loved ones called JB.
“JB was a proud graduate of the Ware County High School Class of 2025, full of promise and deeply loved by his family, friends, and community,” Thompson wrote. “His sudden loss has left an unfillable void in the hearts of all who knew him.”
National Lightning Safety Council offers guidance, warnings on lightning strikes
According to the National Lightning Safety Council, their deaths mark the country's 8th and 9th deaths this year due to lightning.
Their deaths are the first two lightning-related fatalities in Georgia since September 2023. Since 2006, Georgia has seen a total of 21 lightning fatalities, Lighting Safety Specialist John Jensenius told Paste BN on July 14.
He added that four of the eight deaths this year were related to fishing.
The council said on its website that lightning can strike more than 10 miles from a thunderstorm before rain begins to fall, and it can strike afterwards. Many lightning fatalities happen in areas where there is no rain, the council said on its website.
“Summertime leisure activities such as fishing, boating, camping, going to the beach, etc. contribute to about two-thirds of the lightning fatalities with the remainder related to work or routine daily activities,” the council wrote.
The council said some ways to protect yourself from lightning include:
- Having a lightning safety plan.
- Knowing where you’ll go for safety and how long it will take you to get there.
- Checking the weather forecast before leaving and if thunderstorms are predicted, consider cancelling or postponing the activity.
- Monitoring the weather, and reacting quickly to changing weather conditions.
- Paying attention to the sky. if the sky looks threatening or you hear thunder, get to a safe place immediately.
- Staying inside for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.