Tragedy struck a lower-league soccer match in Thailand on Tuesday when one player was killed and 12 others injured after lightning struck the field during play.
The incident took place during a match in the Golok Cup regional tournament at the Santiphap Stadium in Narathiwat province, which is in the southern part of the country and borders Malaysia.
During the match, video shared to social media shows Safwan Awae watching play amidst a downpour from monsoon weather before being struck and falling to the ground.
The bolt creates a bright flash and a plume of smoke.
A referee, several players and spectators are seen rushing to provide aid to Awae, including administering chest compressions.
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According to local reporters, emergency services were called and provided medical attention before taking Awae to hospital, where he later was declared dead.
Local police also confirmed that 12 others had suffered burns in the lightning strike, including Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, a 22-year-old Malaysian footballer.
“Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident,” police chief Thun Sirikhunt said in a statement.
Who was Safwan Awae?
Awae had joined the club FC Yala, which competes in the Thai League 3 Southern Region, for the 2026-27 season. According to Transfermarkt, the 24 year old is a forward who typically plays on the right wing.
During the 2024-25 season, he scored four goals in six appearances for Pattani FC.
FC Yala shared a tribute to Awae on social media, posting: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return.
“Condolences to the family of Safwan Awae, the new player of FC Yala.”
Has a player died from lightning before?
Unfortunately, this is not the first time such a tragic situation involving lightning has occurred during soccer matches in recent years.
During a women’s game in southwestern Colombia in February 2025, four soccer players died after being struck by lightning.
The tragic incident – which also claimed the life of a man with the team – happened when a thunderstorm broke out during a match in the village of El Real, Casas Bajas, in the municipality of Cajibio, U.K. outlet National World reported.
And during a 2024 match in Huancayo, Peru, Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza had been competing in a local clash between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca when the referee halted the match as a thunderstorm approached.
As the 39 year old player was walking off the pitch with his fellow teammates, de la Cruz Meza is believed to have been killed instantly, as per the U.K. Sun, after lightning hit the field. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Four others were taken to hospital due to the incident, including goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, who received a direct strike and is said to have suffered severe burns.