'One Tree Hill' star Bevin Prince's husband fatally struck by lightning

“One Tree Hill” star Bevin Prince's husband, William Friend, died Sunday after being struck by lightning in North Carolina over the holiday weekend, according to reports.

Friend, CEO of the multiplatform digital media company Bisnow, was 33.

Friend was near Masonboro Island outside Wilmington on July 3 when he was struck about 3:15 p.m., local news outlets reported, citing local authorities. A request from USA TODAY wasn't immediately returned by the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office.

Marine units from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the Wilmington Police Department responded after civilians flagged them down during a routine patrol, according to WECT. Deputies performed CPR on Friend, who was taken to an ambulance.

First responders tried to resuscitate him for 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead, officials told media.

No other injuries were reported.

"With profound sadness, we share some extremely difficult news: Will Friend, who took Bisnow to new heights as CEO, passes away at 33," Bisnow posted on social media Wednesday.

Friend's death marks the third lightning fatality in the United States this year, according to the National Lightning Safety Council, which said Friend died during "beach activities" "on a boat or near a beach."

The other two deaths this year were in Georgia and California, in June and July.

The odds of a person being struck in their lifetime (an estimated 80 years) are 1 in 18,043, according to the safety council.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'One Tree Hill' Bevin Prince's husband Will Friend killed by lightning