A lightning strike during a local league soccer match in central Peru has injured one soccer player and four others.
About 70 kilometers southeast of Lima, in the town of Chilca, the incident took place on Sunday at Coto Coto stadium. Players are seen leaving the field in video from the game after it was stopped because of a storm.
Several players were observed tumbling face-first to the ground when lightning struck the pitch. Local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancavelic captured footage of a quick spark and a tiny cloud of smoke near one of the players.
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Authorities and state media identified the deceased player as 39-year-old defender Hugo De La Cruz, who was struck in the 22nd minute of the match between local teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.
“We join in solidarity and extend our sincere condolences to the family of young Hugo De La Cruz, who, after being struck by lightning, unfortunately lost his life while being taken to the hospital,” the local municipality stated. They also expressed support for the four injured players.
As of Monday evening, two players had been discharged from the hospital, while two remained under observation. One goalkeeper, who was critically injured, had shown signs of improvement.
The incident has sparked concern about the dangers of playing sports during severe weather. Lightning strikes can cause serious injuries, including burns, seizures, and memory loss. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the chance of being struck by lightning is less than one in a million, but nearly 90% of survivors experience long-lasting effects.
Source: CNN
