Patrick's last words before lightning struck him | The World

Patrick Despoto, 59, was on a beach in New Jersey, USA, last weekend with his girlfriend, Ruth Fussell.

“When we looked up, it was filled with black clouds,” says Ruth.

A thunderstorm was about to move over the area and they decided to leave the place. But when they saw that a group of young men were still on the beach, Patrick became worried.

“Patrick opened our car and said, ‘Get in the car while I go tell the guys to get out of here, I’ll be back soon,’” Ruth says.

I asked him not to do it but Patrick replied that it would only take “a minute.” When he didn't return to the car after a few minutes, I texted him.

– I didn't get an answer. Then I called him three times, Ruth says.

“I ran over there and it was Pat.”

When Patrick didn't answer, Ruth ran towards the beach where she saw a man calling for help.

“I saw someone lying on the sand next to him,” Ruth says. “I ran over and it was Pat.”

He was struck by lightning. Patrick's life could not be saved.

Ruth is later contacted by one of the young men on the beach. She said Patrick was able to warn them before the lightning struck him.

– When they packed up and left the beach to get into their cars, Pat said, “Be careful,” and she replied, “You too.” Ruth says she didn't see what happened to Pat next.