SINGAPORE \u2013 The man who died after being struck by lightning on July 5<\/span><\/a> was a promising and dedicated instructor, said the company he freelanced for.<\/p>\n Mikhail Benyamin, 24, worked part-time for a group of outdoor adventure companies, and had been out in the waters off Pasir Ris Beach with his family when tragedy struck.<\/p>\n He was brought to shore unconscious and taken to Sengkang General Hospital, where he later died. No foul play is suspected.<\/p>\n The police had earlier said that six others, aged between 13 and 54,\u00a0were taken conscious to the hospital.<\/p>\n Mikhail worked freelance as a certified kayaking instructor for water activities company SeaOPS.<\/p>\n Its founder, Andrew Chua, 60, said Mikhail also conducted courses its sister companies, Camp Challenge and Outdoor Adventures.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt\u2019s very sad. A lot of people would know him as a very good instructor. It\u2019s a very unfortunate thing to happen to a promising instructor who was very dedicated.\u201d<\/p>\n A police vehicle at the beach near Carpark D at Pasir Ris Park at 6.30pm on July 5 after the lightning strike incident was reported.<\/p>\n PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Chua said Mikhail had procured a stand-up paddleboard and three kayaks belonging to SeaOPS that day.<\/p>\n He added they were used for a family activity, and Mikhail was not conducting a course then.<\/p>\n Chua said: \u201cWe have this thing called work-life integration, where instructors can organise activities for themselves and their family members. He was doing something for his family, and was not conducting a student or corporate course.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as I know, there were no sirens or Category 1 warnings at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Category 1 warnings are issued by the Meteorological Service Singapore if there is a high risk of lightning strikes and severe thundery showers in the immediate area.<\/p>\n Chua said outdoor activities all carry some risks.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWhen it comes to the outdoors, you need to take certain precautions if you think there is a chance of lightning or heavy weather. Each individual will have to make an assessment before making a decisive and safe decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Chua said Mikhail and his family had been on their way back to shore when lightning struck him.<\/p>\n Said Chua: \u201cLightning strikes can happen to anyone.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, (Mikhail) was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And no matter what kind of training he had, it\u2019s very difficult to mitigate such a situation.\u201d<\/p>\n A friend of Mikhail from secondary school remembered him as humble.<\/p>\n Addressing him affectionately as Mika, the friend, who declined to be named, said: \u201cHe passed doing what he loved, being in the outdoors and in the waters.\u201d<\/p>\n Chua said Mikhail had procured a stand-up paddle board and three kayaks belonging to SeaOPS that day.<\/p>\n PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mohammad Nordin, the owner of a nearby kayak rental shop, Fish On, said Mikhail was using a stand-up paddleboard.<\/p>\n He said the rest of the group were using single-seat and tandem kayaks.<\/p>\n Nordin said after the lightning strike, some of the kayaks capsized.<\/p>\n Mikhail\u2019s younger brother, who was part of the group, swam to shore to call for help.<\/p>\n Nordin and several members of the public helped to drag the kayaks to shore and lifted Mikhail from the stand-up paddleboard and moved him onto the grass.<\/p>\n Nordin added that before the arrival of medical personnel, bystanders administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Mikhail.<\/p>\n About 15 minutes later, an ambulance arrived to transport Mikhail and other victims \u2013 who appeared to be in shock \u2013 to hospital.<\/p>\n In a statement on July 6, the Outdoor Learning and Adventure Education (OLAE) Association extended its condolences to Mikhail\u2019s family and friends, saying his death was a loss to their community.<\/p>\n The association is the largest for outdoor education activities in Singapore and promotes best practices for the industry. SeaOPS is one of its members.<\/p>\n OLAE secretery-general Delane Lim said: \u201c(Mikhail) was part of Singapore\u2019s outdoor adventure community, and we recognise his passion and commitment to paddle sports and outdoor adventure education.\u201d<\/p>\n Lim noted that stand-up paddleboarding is an increasingly popular water activity enjoyed by people of all ages.<\/p>\n He said everyone should observe the principles of water safety, no matter what the activity might be.<\/p>\n He added that all providers and practitioners should adhere to the relevant safety standards when planning and conducting activities.<\/p>\n They include making risk assessments regarding weather forecasts, lightning alerts and water conditions before embarking on water activities.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWhere actual conditions observed on site indicate a higher level of risk than forecast, the on-site assessment and professional judgment of the activity leader should take precedence.\u201d<\/p>\n Those involved should also monitor environmental conditions during the activity and ensure instructors are equipped with proper training and experience.<\/p>\n Lim said no single standard or checklist can entirely eliminate all risks associated with outdoor activities.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cGood preparation, continual situational awareness and sound professional judgment remain essential in managing dynamic outdoor environments.\u201d<\/p>\n In a separate incident on June 24, a lightning strike had caused a fire <\/span><\/a>near Pulau Ubin, affecting at least two floating fish farms.<\/p>\n The fire started at one farm and is believed to have spread to two other farms, causing serious damage. No injuries were reported.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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Applied CPR<\/h2>\n
Risk assessments<\/h2>\n