A lightning strike during a local league soccer match in central Peru on Sunday, November 3, killed one player and injured four others.
Video from the match shows players leaving the pitch at Cotocoto Stadium in the city of Chilca, about 70 km southeast of Lima, after the match was suspended due to the storm.
Several players fell face-first to the ground when lightning struck the field.
Local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancaberic reported that brief sparks and a small cloud of smoke were seen near one of the players.
After a few seconds, some players appeared to be struggling to get up.
Following the incident, which occurred in the 22nd minute of a match between local teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Ciocca, authorities and state media identified the dead player as defender Hugo de la Cruz (39).
Sadly, Hugo de la Cruz died on the way to the hospital. Meanwhile, the local community issued a statement on the incident:
“We also express our support and wishes for a speedy recovery to the other four players injured in this tragic accident.”
As of Monday night, two players had reportedly been released from hospital and two others were under observation.
Lionel Messi Wins October’s MLS Player Of The Month Award
The goalkeeper injured in the incident was in critical condition but is recovering, the report said.
