A 62-year-old man was killed by lightning on a NSW golf course on Thursday, as wild weather struck the state.
Marty Jones was about to tee off around 1pm, when he was struck by a lightning bolt on a golf course at Hawks Nest, north of Newcastle.
Mr Jones’ Greek American wife, Helen, told Neos Kosmos her husband was always “the life of the party”.
“When he walked into a room there was this energy, he would light up a room,” she said. “Our life was filled with laughter.”
Mrs Jones, a life coach, said her husband of 22 years was “an inspiration”.
“He was my mentor in business, my partner in life, my partner in laughter.”
She said her husband was “very passionate” about golf.”If he had to die, it was a good way to go, doing something that he just loved,” she said.
Marty Jones is survived by three daughters and five grandchildren.
Mr Jones’ playing partners, aged 62 and 64, were rushed to hospital for burns and are in a stable condition.
The storm ravaged much of the state this week, resulting in hundreds of emergency services calls and the flooding of Penrith Hospital.