A 24-year-old man, Mikhail Benyamin, died after being struck by lightning while kayaking off Pasir Ris Beach, Singapore, on Sunday afternoon, July 5, 2026. He was part of a group of eight people, aged between 13 and 54, who were kayaking and paddleboarding in the designated area when the incident occurred.

Police received a call for help at about 4:50 pm from 131 Pasir Ris Road, near the beach. Two individuals were taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, while the other six were taken to Sengkang General Hospital. Mikhail was already unconscious upon rescue and subsequently died.

Known as a mentor and a reliable instructor, Mikhail was not working at the time but had joined family and friends for a picnic before the group went out for a leisure paddle, according to Berwin Tan, chief operating officer of Outdoor Adventures. Tan emphasized that the outing was purely recreational and that the group was paddling within the designated area when the lightning struck.

Staff and witnesses reported clear skies before the incident, with no lightning warning siren activated. Rain arrived only after the strike, and nearby fishermen rushed to assist. Tan also noted that if a Category 1 weather warning had been issued, the group would not have been allowed to go out.

Mikhail was remembered fondly by colleagues as a "beacon of light" and "like the big brother to many people." Outdoor Adventures expressed deep condolences to his family and pledged support.

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