Brazilian Surf Champ Killed by Lightning While Surfing

Luzimara Souza, a Brazilian surf champ, died after being struck by lightning while training for an upcoming championships on March 27. The 23-year-old was surfing off the coast of Fortaleza when the lightning struck.

She was pulled from the water by a man named Gerardo Junior, then taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. “I came here the moment she was struck,” the rescuer told Diario do Nordeste. “Unfortunately, she received the discharge on top of her. She and the other surfers were hit by the lightning. I was able to rescue her and, in a short time, she was taken to the hospital.”

According to the news site G1, a lightning strike injured a second person: a 17-year-old surfer named Felipe Cardoso Nogueira. He is currently recovering in a hospital. Jehova Rodrigues, Souza’s coach, said she was training for the 2019 championships after she won the Ceará and Brazilian championships in 2018. Friends and family gathered to honour Souza on March 31 at Praia Da Leste Oeste.

A post shared by Luzimara Souza?? (@luzimara_surf) on Dec 1, 2018 at 3:13am PST

A mais linda homenagem que já vi. O momento mais energizante que já vivi. Ela estava lá sorrindo e agradecendo, disso não tenho dúvidas. Fica o adeus mais forte, mais sincero e mais emocionante. O sonho dela era ser reconhecida como está sendo, pena não poder estar viva para sentir isso daqui. Fica a indignação daqueles que sabem que ela perdeu patrocínio por se assumir homossexual e ver as empresas correndo atrás só agora que ela não pode mais dar o melhor dela nesse plano. Existem mais atletas precisando dessa força, dessa visibilidade. Muitos são negros, muitas são gays. Mas todos merecem ser reconhecidos pelo que fazem EM VIDA! NÃO ESPEREM OUTRO TALENTO MORRER PARA DAREM A VISIBILIDADE QUE ELE MERECE! #luzimara #luz&mar Voar é preciso. Fotos: @modeonfilmes

A post shared by Joana Meireles ?? (@jomrls) on Apr 1, 2019 at 5:09am PDT