Golfer struck by lightning while playing course in New Jersey

HARDYSTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- A golfer was struck by lightning while playing on a course in New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Hardyston Police Department.

Simon Mariani, 28, was playing golf at the Ballyowen Golf Course in Hamburg, New Jersey, just before 2 p.m. when he was struck by a bolt of lightning at the 15th hole, police said.

Brian Delia, a fellow golfer who witnessed the lightning strike, spoke to our sister station, WABC.

Delia said the victim was struck about 300 yards in front of him.

He said they were on the 14th hole and had seen lightning off in the distance for about half an hour before the victim was struck.

"I was like 'is this going to be a tornado that's actually happening,'" Delia said. "One of the guys that we were golfing with, he works at another golf course, and he was like 'we need to get out of here.'"

Delia said that was when he started filming.

"I started filming, and he was right in front of me, and all of a sudden the lightning strikes and I ended the video recording, and we immediately just started heading back to the clubhouse," Delia said.

Delia said he did not know someone had been struck by lightning until police arrived and said someone had been injured at the 15th hole, which is on the "complete opposite corner" of the clubhouse.

He said the victim's father appeared distraught as his son was taken to the ambulance.

"I can only imagine what he was going through. He was being driven off the golf course to, I guess, the hospital where his son was being helicopter lifted to," Delia said.

He said the group didn't receive any warning about lightning from the course.

"Nobody did say anything to us, we didn't hear any horns to get off the course at all, they started blowing the horns when we were back at the clubhouse and that was after the police were already out there," Delia said.

Crystal Springs Resort released a statement confirming that a guest was injured due to an apparent lightning strike, and said course personnel sounded warning horns to clear the course.

They said the golf course had been operating under normal conditions before the storm, which developed rapidly.

"The safety of our guests is one of our top priorities," said Michelle Abate, spokesperson for Crystal Springs Resort. "Our primary concern right now is the well-being of the guest and his family."

Mariani was taken to the hospital by medevac helicopter for further treatment, officials said.

The status of his condition is unknown.