A 44-year-old German politician has died after he was hit by lightning whilst taking a wee outside in a storm, said local news agencies.

Nico K., a local politician, who belonged to the Christian Democratic Union Party and was a member of the local council, died in the tragic accident during a garden party in the village of Hoehnstedt in the northeastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Local news agencies said that a group of friends was having a barbecue in the area when Nico K. walked away to relieve himself.

He was reportedly standing under a high-voltage power line when a lightning bolt struck him.

Onlookers tried to revive the 44-year-old but he died at the scene.

Ralf Karlstedt, a police spokesperson, said:

They tried to reanimate him, but it didn’t work.

Local police reportedly launched an investigation into the bizarre incident.

There are approximately 240,000 lightning injuries every year, with around 24,000 people dying as a result of being struck by lightning.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the German politician.