El Salvador surfer killed by lightning strike during training
A 22-year-old surfer died after being struck by lightning in El Salvador.
The young surfer, Katherine Diaz, was struck by lightning while training at El Tunco Beach in El Salvador.
The Salvadoran Surf Federation confirmed the sad news with a post on social media: "A great athlete who has represented our country has left us. See you soon, great warrior. El Salvador is in mourning."
Katherine was the daughter of the federation's president, Jose Diaz.
Shortly after El Salvador's top surfer entered the water to train on Friday, she was struck down by lightning. Emergency services quickly arrived, but the surfer died on the beach.
The Spanish news paper AS reported that according to the Salvadoran Surf Federation, "The sky was clear and it was an unforeseen storm that did not seem to carry much electrical intensity either."
Diaz was preparing for the ISA World Surf Games in El Salvador. The event is due to be held from May 29 to June 6 and serves as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympic Games where surfing makes its Olympic debut.
