Lightning strike kills Thai footballer and injures 12 in Sungai Golok
A 24-year-old footballer has died and 12 others have been injured after a lightning bolt hit a stadium during a cup match in southern Thailand.
Sofwan Awae was struck on the pitch at the Santiphap Stadium in the town of Sungai Golok on Tuesday during a Golok FA Cup tie.
The freak incident brought an abrupt halt to the match between Abu x Nong Sirin and SAMCOLT as a massive electrical discharge hit the playing surface.
Team-mates and medical staff frantically rushed to perform emergency resuscitation on the stricken player, but they were ultimately unable to save his life.
Police confirm severe casualties
Local authorities verified that a dozen other individuals sustained injuries from the blast and were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Sungai Golok police chief Thun Sirikhunt provided a solemn update on the tragic events following the stadium evacuation.
“Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident.”
Video footage of the immediate aftermath has circulated widely online, showing fellow competitors attempting to help the 24-year-old before emergency services arrived.
Football community mourns tragedy
The Football Association of Thailand expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss of the young athlete during a sanctioned fixture.
“The association joins in mourning this loss and offers its condolences to the family, those involved and the football club during this time of sorrow.”
Yala FC, who recently signed the promising talent, also released a statement paying tribute to their new acquisition.
“We extend our condolences to the family of our new FC Yala player, Sofwan Awae.”
History of fatal weather events
This devastating event echoes a notorious 1998 tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an entire team of 11 players died following a similar stadium lightning strike.
According to the Thai Department of Disease Control, fatal lightning strikes remain a significant and persistent hazard across the region.
Official statistics show that extreme weather phenomena claimed 283 lives in Thailand between 2020 and 2024, with the vast majority of victims dying instantly.