Hong Kong fisherman, 67, dies after suspected lightning strike on sampan off Tseung Kwan O

A 67-year-old fisherman named Sin passed away after his sampan was suspected of being struck by lightning off the coast of Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong, during a heavy rainstorm on August 27, 2026. Found unconscious on the vessel near the Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link, police received a report at 9:14am and dispatched a rescue vessel immediately.

The sampan was seen drifting in heavy rain, with footage from a nearby fishing boat showing the perilous scene. A marine police vessel arrived to conduct a rescue, bringing Sin ashore at Tseung Kwan O South Landing Steps, where he was rushed to the hospital. Multiple injuries were noted on his body, leading medical professionals to believe he was the victim of a lightning strike.

His condition worsened, and he was officially certified dead at the hospital, with an autopsy currently under way. The Hong Kong Observatory had issued a red rainstorm warning at 5:05am on Thursday, which was lowered to amber at 9:20am and then cancelled by 10:15am. Over 5,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were recorded in the region between Wednesday night and Thursday noon.

In a separate incident earlier this month, a 59-year-old hiker was struck by lightning while ascending Lantau Island's highest peak during a heavy rainstorm and was later rescued and treated in a hospital.