A local football match in central Peru turned deadly on Sunday when a lightning strike killed one player and injured four others.
The tragic incident occurred at Coto Coto Stadium in the town of Chilca, approximately 70 kilometres southeast of Lima.
Lightning Strike Kills Football Player
The lightning bolt hit during the 22nd minute of a game between local teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca, with footage showing players attempting to walk off the pitch after a storm paused the match.
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In a shocking moment captured by local broadcaster Onda Deportiva Huancavelic, several players collapsed to the ground as the lightning struck, followed by a visible spark and a cloud of smoke near one of the downed players.
The player who lost his life was identified as 39-year-old defender Hugo De La Cruz.
“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 said in a statement.
“We also express our support and wishes for a speedy recovery to the other four players injured in this tragic accident.”
Lightning Strike Kills Football Player [Image: X]By Monday evening, two of the injured players had been discharged from the hospital, according to state news agency Andina, while two others remain under medical observation. Among them, a goalkeeper is in critical condition but has shown signs of improvement.
The regional government of Junín, where the incident occurred, has not yet commented publicly.
The Brutal Phenomenon
Lightning strikes are rare but can cause severe harm or even death. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the odds of being struck are less than one in a million. Nearly 90% of people struck by lightning survive, though they often suffer serious long-term effects, including burns, seizures, and memory loss.
In a previous lightning strike incident, a 16-year-old Russian goalkeeper survived after being hit during a training session in 2020. Although he suffered severe burns and was put into a medically induced coma, he made a remarkable recovery in the following weeks.