Several people sought shelter from a powerful storm under a pavilion at Hammonasset Beach State Park, but the lightning hit the structure killing one man and injuring four other people, WTNH.com reported.

Jen was among the people caught in the storm. He said in an interview that he was at the beach with friends, but the beautiful beach day turned tragic in a mater of hours.

"We had no idea anything like this could ever happen," Brade told WTNH.

He said there were a few families which went to the pavilion to seek shelter from the storm, “just like all of us," but, uncommonly, the lightning hit.

"One minute you're on the beach, the next minute there are lightening strikes everywhere," said Elaine Milardo, who was also waiting under a nearby pavilion for the storm to pass.

The lightning struck the pavilion near the West Beach parking lot around 5:00 p.m., the Department of Environmental Protection confirmed. Powerful thunderstorms moved through the state Sunday afternoon leaving thousands of people in Connecticut without power.

Authorities only released the number of victims, but wouldn’t reveal their identities.

With a beach along Long Island Sound measuring more than two miles, Hammonasset Beach is Connecticut's largest shoreline park. Authorities said the beach would be re-opened today.