Family devastated after lightning strike kills one, injures two on Bear River
Aug 19, 2024, 9:00 PM
Skyler Granath (left) with his brother Bridger Granath (right). Skyler was killed in a lightning accident on the Bear River Sunday, August 18. (Courtesy Arnold Mutti)
(Courtesy Arnold Mutti)
OGDEN — A Weber County family is grieving after a tragic lightning strike on the Bear River killed a father and fiancée on Sunday.
Maddie Palmer said her fiancée, 24-year-old Skyler Granath, spent a lot of time enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.
“Every weekend we go, like, go out tubing or on the boat, and I just always had a really fun time,” Palmer said.
She said if her fiancée wasn’t with her and their two-year-old daughter, he would often be with his little brother Bridger Granath and close friend Jacob Coe.
“(He) was just the funniest person ever. And he really would go out of his way to help anyone, any friend needed anything. He would just. Be right there to help them,” Palmer said.
Skyler Granath and Maddie Palmer. (Courtesy Maddie Palmer)
On Saturday, Skyler Granath was fishing on a boat with Bridger Granath and Joe on the Bear River. What should have been just another fishing trip took a sudden turn very early Sunday, just after midnight.
According to the Box Elder Sheriff’s Office, the three men saw a thunderstorm and started to return to shore before lightning struck their boat.
“Flipped all three of them out of the boat into the air,” said Arnold Mutti, Granath brothers’ grandfather. “My one grandson that’s alive said that he flipped three times up in the air before he hit the water.”
Mutti said Bridger Granath tried to bring him to shore before lightning struck struck again, separating the brothers. Search crews found Skyler Granath’s body several hours later.
Read more from KSLTV.com here.
There is an account in Skyler Granath’s name at America First Credit Union* to help cover funeral expenses.
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
