The surfing world has been left shocked after Katherine Diaz Hernandez was killed by a lightning strike at a beach in El Salvador over the weekend.

She was entering the water around 5 pm when the lightning hit her.

Members of the public rushed to try to help her, with an ambulance rushing her to the hospital. Unfortunately, she could not be revived.

Diaz was training for a global competition to be held in El Salvador that is the last qualifying event before the Olympics.

“I just found out about the death of Salvadoran surfer Katherine Díaz,” said Yamil Bukele, president of the Salvadoran Sports Institute. “I am very sorry for this death and I join the pain that overwhelms her family. Our solidarity with ‘el Bamba’ and the surf family. Peace for your soul.”

Jaime Delgado, the former president of the Salvadoran Surf Federation, posted on Facebook: “You enjoyed your dream and you started doing what you liked the most.

"Those of us who knew you know that you leave a great emptiness in our hearts. A hug to heaven, ‘Katu’, Katherine Díaz”.