Thai footballer dies, Malaysian injured after lightning strike during match

NARATHIWAT - A Thai football player died while a Malaysian national was injured after they were struck by lightning during an FA Golok Cup football match at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok here on Tuesday afternoon.

Sungai Golok Police Chief Col. Thun Sirikhunt said the incident occurred during heavy rain at around 5pm local time, when the match continued before lightning suddenly struck the middle of the pitch.

"The incident left more than nine individuals injured, while a Thai national, Sofwan Awae, 24, a Yala FC player, died," he said when contacted yesterday.

He said the Malaysian player injured in the incident was identified as Mohamad Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, 22.

Thun said that upon receiving an emergency call at around 5.30pm, police rushed to the scene and found Sofwan in critical condition.

"Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident," he said.

Thun said all injured victims were taken to Sungai Golok Hospital for treatment, while police were conducting further investigations into the incident. - BERNAMA