Gareth Davis Sr, Star Writer

Tragedy struck in the quiet community of Fairy Hill in Portland yesterday after a senior citizen was struck to death by lightning.

Sixty-seven-year-old carpenter Errol Forbes, who was outside his home working on a project for his church, was reportedly struck by a bolt of lightning, as he made his way into his house shortly after 10:30 a.m.

According to a police report, Forbes, who is also second elder at the Zion Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church, was outside working when the rain started about 8 a.m.

The police said that as the heavy downpour continued, which was accompanied by lightning, the elderly man decided to make his way out of the rain to go inside, when the incident took place.

The man's wife, who at the time was also headed inside, but was ahead of him, witnessed her husband being struck down by the lightning, and alerted neighbours.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the body was transferred to the morgue. The Portland police are investigating.