Lightning Strike Kills PA Golfer During Last Week's Storms

TAYLOR, PA — A Pennsylvania man who was a Vietnam veteran died last week after being struck by lightning while golfing, according to reports. Joseph A. Slivinski, 71, of Peckville died Friday.

WNEP News reports Slivinski was golfing at Pine Hills Golf Course in Taylor, Lackawanna County, when he was struck by lightning Friday afternoon.

According to WBRE/WYOU, Slivinski was looking for cover when he was struck and was pronounced dead at the golf course by the Lackwanna County Coroner.

Slivinski served in the United States Army for two years and was a specialist in Vietnam according to his obituary.

According to the CDC, the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are only around one in 500,000. That agency reports that men are five times more likely than females to be struck by lightning. Around 85 percent of lightning fatalities are men.

You can view lightning safety tips here.