Lightning kills father of two as he mows his mother's back yard

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Darrell Hoskins, 40, was killed in freak lightning strike on Saturday in Tennessee
Was mowing the lawn when lightning struck a tree and arced to his cellphone
The youngest of Hoskins' two daughters found the body in her grandma's yard

By Keith Griffith For Dailymail.com

Published: 22:09 EDT, 17 July 2018 | Updated: 22:09 EDT, 17 July 2018

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Darrell Glen Hoskins was killed by lightning on Saturday in Somerville, Tennessee

Lightning has struck and killed a father of two while he was mowing the yard behind his mother's house.

Darrell Glen Hoskins had earbuds in and likely didn't hear the thunder that rolled in quickly on Saturday over Somerville, Tennessee, a small town about 45 miles east of Memphis. He was 40.

'He had just a little bit of grass left, and it started sprinkling,' cousin Stephanie Skelton told WMCA.

Hoskins was finishing up the lawn on his riding mower when a bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree. Officials believe the current arced from the tree to the cellphone in his shirt pocket, killing him instantly.

The tragedy was only made worse by the fact that Hoskins' younger daughter, age eight, found the body.

Hoskins (rear) is seen with his mother and brother in a family photo

Officials believe the lightning struck this tree and then arced to a cell phone in Hoskins' pocket. The damage to the bark seen above was caused by the lightning bolt

Hoskins was born in Memphis but went to school in Fayette County, of which Somerville is the county seat, and remained a longtime resident, according to an obituary.

He married his wife in 2005, but she died unexpectedly in 2011 at age 31.

Hoskins has two daughters, the eldest going into her senior year of high school in Mississippi, and the youngest about to start fourth grade.

Hoskins is survived by his two daughters (above) who are in fourth and 12th grades

Hoskins was an avid WWE wrestling fan, and also enjoyed target shooting, attending flea markets and auctions, and spending time with his family.

His family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral expenses and support the younger daughter, who will be raised by Hoskins' nearby family and devoted girlfriend of five years.

According to the National Weather Service, so far in 2018 there have been 15 fatal lightning strikes in the US. Two occurred while the victim was mowing the lawn.