A 29-year-old father of three died after he was struck by lightning at the Marudi Creek on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway on July 16, 2023.
Shawn Easton of Swan, Linden-Soesdyke Highway was at the time heading home while on his cellular phone near the Marudi creek, when lightning struck. He was later discovered lying face down in the Marudi creek with burns to the right side of his body. According to Easton’s sister-in-law, Estella James, of Swan, she was looking through her window and could see Easton heading home from work. She recalled seeing him talking to someone on his phone near the Marudi Creek area.
However, about five minutes later, James said she saw bright flashes of lightning followed by heavy rain. When the lightning and rain ceased, she heard loud screams coming from the direction of the creek. James said Easton’s body was found the very day by his girlfriend lying face down in the Marudi Creek with burns to the right side of his body. James said that Easton’s pants melted and his phone was found in the bushes.
