Briton, 26, dies ‘after being struck by lightning’ while paddleboarding in Greece

‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Rhodes and are in contact with local authorities’

A 26-year-old British man has died in Greece

An investigation has been launched into the death of a British man amid reports he was struck by lightning while paddleboarding in Greece.

The unnamed man was in the sea off the beach in Agia Agathi, Rhodes, as his girlfriend filmed him from the beach, according to local media.

The Port Authority of Rhodes confirmed to the PA news agency the man was 26 years old and a British national but would give no further information.

A spokesperson said: “This is an active case so we cannot give more details at the moment.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Rhodes and are in contact with local authorities.”

Greek newspaper Rodiaki reported lightning struck the water near the man shortly before 1.30pm local time on Tuesday, causing him to fall in the water injured.

The newspaper reported that a passer-by, who it named as a Brazilian footballer who plays for a local side, waded into the water to pull the man back to shore, where medics then took him to a local hospital before he was declared dead.