A 28-year-old golfer in New Jersey has tragically died less than a week after being struck by lightning while playing on a golf course. Simon John Mariani was struck during a thunderstorm on July 8 and sadly succumbed to his injuries the following Monday, according to his online obituary. The incident occurred while Mariani was taking part in a golf competition at the Ballyowen Golf Club in Hardyston, New Jersey. Witnesses reported that heavy storms moved into the area during the tournament, creating hazardous conditions. After being struck, Mariani was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, he passed away six days later. Brian Delia, a fellow golfer who witnessed the tragic moment, told ABC7 that he had been filming the storm clouds shortly before the lightning strike occurred. “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 recalled. Delia described a chaotic scene in which Mariani’s father administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, while other golfers attempted CPR as they waited desperately for paramedics to arrive. A spokesperson for Crystal Springs Resort, which operates the Ballyowen course, stated that staff had issued a weather alert warning prior to the strike. However, Delia contested that claim, saying no audible warning was heard on the course. “We didn’t hear any horns to get off the course at all. They started blowing the horns when we were already back at the clubhouse, and that was after the police had arrived,” he said. Mariani’s family and friends have described him as a kind, intelligent, and respected individual, known for his integrity, sense of humour, strong work ethic and commitment to teamwork. The 28-year-old graduated from University of Notre Dame in 2019. He was working as an associate at MTS Health Partners in New York City at the time of his death. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Kathleen Mariani, and his two sisters, Samantha and Sophia. His funeral service is scheduled for Friday, July 18, at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes.