A footballer has died and 12 others were injured when lightning struck during a match at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok, southern Thailand, on Tuesday. Sofwan Awae, 24, suffered severe injuries after the lightning bolt hit the pitch amid heavy rain.
Despite efforts by medical teams, Mr. Awae later died from his injuries, according to Sungai Golok police chief Thun Sirikhunt. Footage of the incident showed a lightning bolt striking near the players, followed by a loud sound. Teammates rushed to Mr. Awae's side and performed CPR while crowds gathered around him.
Twelve players were injured and transported to Sungai Kolok Hospital. Among them was a 22-year-old Malaysian national, Mohamad Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, who returned to Malaysia for treatment. Police confirmed that all efforts were made to save Mr. Awae, but he succumbed to severe injuries.
The match was part of the Golok FA Cup, a local tournament featuring amateur and Thai-Malaysian teams. The fixture on Tuesday was between SAMCOLTS and Abu x Nong Sirin. Mr. Awae, who played on the wing for SAMCOLTS, had recently been signed by Thai third-tier club Yala FC. The club issued a statement offering condolences to Mr. Awae's family.
Lightning strikes have resulted in fatalities in Thailand previously. Between 2020 and 2024, approximately 283 people were struck by lightning, according to the Department of Disease Control. In May, an engineering student and his aunt were killed by lightning while taking shelter in a hut in Lampang province, and a 30-year-old pregnant woman died in a separate incident in Uthai Thani province.