*This content was translated by AI.
This is a tragedy that rarely occurs. A 24-year-old player died and 12 others were injured when lightning struck from a clear sky during a soccer match in Thailand.
British media outlet 'The Sun' reported on the 6th (Korean time) that "a terrible accident occurred during a soccer match held in Thailand, where lightning struck the stadium, killing one player and injuring 12 others."
According to local reports, this incident took place during a Golok Cup regional tournament match at Santiphap Stadium in Narathiwat Province, Thailand. The tournament featured amateur teams from both Thailand and Malaysia, including mixed regional squads. As the game proceeded under heavy monsoon rains, an intense flash of lightning was followed by a massive bolt of lightning that struck the stadium directly.
The lightning strike hit Saphan Awae (24), a winger who had recently joined FC Yara, a semi-professional team in Thailand's third division. The video shows flames and smoke rising immediately after the lightning hit, with panicked players and spectators rushing onto the field to perform CPR on Awae, who had lost consciousness.
Awae was immediately transported to a hospital by rescue teams but ultimately passed away. Tuen Sirikun, head of the National Police Agency in the area, officially confirmed his death, stating, "Medical staff did everything they could to save him, but he died due to severe injuries." The match was suspended immediately following the incident.
In addition to Alif Ezhan Julkipri, a Malaysian-born player who suffered burns from the lightning strike, 12 other players were also injured and are receiving treatment.
Yara, Awae's former team, expressed condolences through its official social networking service (SNS), saying, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Awae, a new recruit for Yara."
It is known that Southeast Asia is currently in its rainy season, which runs from May to October, exposing the region to frequent thunderstorms and sudden, intense lightning strikes.
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*This content was translated by AI.
