At only 27 years, Florin Bogdan Ciubotariu lost his life on Sunday 17 June at the Black Sea, after being struck by lightning.

At only 27 years, Florin Bogdan Ciubotariu lost his life on Sunday 17 June at the Black Sea, after being struck by lightning. The rain flooded many of Constanta’s boulevards and frightened the tourists in Mamaia. It caught Romanian lifeguard Bogdan Ciubotariu by surprise at approximately 500 meters from shore, when his boat engine did not start anymore.

The young man realised that he was not safe and called his colleagues who set out to help him. When they arrived near him, Bogdan stood up attempting to grab the line that was thrown to him to pull the two boats together.

At that moment, Bogdan was hit by lightning. The tragedy took only a split second. The terrible energy of the lightning went through his body and he fell down breathless in his boat. His shirt ripped apart, he had many bruises on his neck and in the abdominal area.

His colleagues took him to shore as quickly as possible and alarmed the emergency services. The ambulance transported him to Constanta County Emergency Hospital, but, despite two hours of efforts in the Emergency Room, the life of Bogdan could not be saved.

The law investigation authorities could not establish yet if the thunder went through the antenna of his mobile phone that he was holding or through the sliver necklace and cross hanging on his neck.

Bogdan was involved in saving many lives during his career. He was a graduate of the Physical Education Faculty and a performance athlete.

During 1996-2001, he was a member of CSS Sport Club, kayak-canoe section and from 2002-2003 he was a part of Romanian National Kayak-Canoe Team, winning multiple medals in national and international Championships.

During 2004-2007, Bogdan took part in several international lifesaving championships, giving him the chance to see Italy, Germany, Australia and Spain and be part of the lifesaving family.

Bogdan was a physical education teacher and managed to attain the status of International Lifeguard Instructor. Everyone that knew him says that he was a determined and ambitious man, open to people around him. He strongly believed in God and in his chance to success in life. He loved his parents very much, of whom he often spoke about with his friends.

He never got discouraged when misfortune stood between him and his dreams and continued every time to fight to surmount every trial that life subjected him to. He always fought to overcome the obstacles in his path, winning the hearts of the people that had the fortune to meet him.

The ILS family is deeply saddened with this tragic news and sends its deepest and most sincere condolences to his parents, family, friends and colleagues.