A Kansas man was steps away from the finish line of a 50K race when he was fatally struck by lightning, according to his family and the event’s organizers.

Thomas Stanley, 33, from Andover, was about to complete the FlatRock trail race at the Elk City State Park on Saturday when he was killed in the freak incident.

“It is with deepest regrets and disbelief that I am writing to say that my best friend, father of our babies, and love went to be with Jesus yesterday,” Stanley’s wife, Ashley, posted to Facebook on Sunday morning. “My heart hurts and I feel sick to my stomach. I had 15 blessed years of knowing my best friend and I was planning to have 79.”

“He was the most amazing man – and I’m not just saying that,” his grieving wife wrote. “I don’t know how to do this. I know obviously we will do it one day at a time and with God’s help, but this is so much. God of all comfort be our strength!”

Although Stanley never crossed the finish line, he did complete the 50 kilometers (31 miles) and has been recognized as a finisher in the official results, organizers said on Facebook.

“Thomas’ family says that the chances of being killed by a lightning strike are about one in a million, and Thomas was truly a one-in-a-million guy,” organizers posted.

Stanley worked as the director of business initiatives at the Kansas Leadership Center, where he had been employed since 2008 — when he graduated from Wichita State University, according to his online bio.

The National Weather Service forecast severe storms across the region Saturday afternoon and evening, with heavy rain, large hail and damaging winds.