Teen killed by lightning strike on beach in Australia

Lightning strike kills teen on beach in Australia

A 15-year-old boy has died after being struck by lightning on a Port Stephens beach in NSW, Australia.

Jayden Morrisey was walking out of the sea at One Mile Beach, near Anna Bay, when he was struck by lightning at around 5pm local time on Saturday.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Jayden had been surfing with friends and an adult when an electrical storm blew in. He had walked around 20 metres out of the ocean when he was hit.

Acting Inspector Geoff Bos from the Port Stephens Local Area Command said members of the public carried out CPR until paramedics arrived. Emergency services worked on him for an hour but he could not be revived.

According to Sky News, friends have paid tribute to the high school student on social media, with friend Emmalee O'Brien calling him "such a beautiful soul".

The Daily Mail reports that Jayden was a rugby league referee, and one family friend told the paper: "He was such a respectful, happy young boy who always had a smile."

According to the Mirror, Jayden's death came just an hour after a 50-year-old man was hit by lighting outside a house just a few miles away in Sydney.

The region has been hit by unsettled weather, with gale-force winds up to 100km an hour, and thousands of homes in Sydney being left without power.