Thai footballer dies after lightning strike during Golok Cup match
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A 24-year-old Thai footballer died after lightning struck during a Golok Cup match.
- Twelve others, including a Malaysian player, were injured and taken to hospital.
- Thai football authorities have paid tribute and urged support for the victim's family.
Sofwan Awae, a 24-year-old winger who had recently signed for Thai third-tier club Yala FC, died after being struck by lightning whilst representing amateur side SAMCOLTS in a Golok Cup fixture against Abu x Nong Sirin at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok on Tuesday, 4 August.
The incident occurred at approximately 5.30pm local time as the match was still in progress.
One footballer dies, 12 others injured
Footage shared on social media appears to show a powerful bolt of lightning striking the penalty area before players from both teams rushed to help the fallen footballer.Team-mates immediately turned Awae onto his back and began CPR whilst emergency medical personnel made their way onto the pitch.
Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, he could not be saved.
Warning: This video contains distressing footage that some viewers may find the content upsetting.
According to Sungai Golok police chief Thun Sirikhunt, emergency responders did everything possible to save the player.Video tersebut merupakan satu kejadian pemain dipanah petir ketika aksi Piala FA Golok antara Abu Sirin Bukit Ta menentang Sam Colt. pic.twitter.com/UCEQaen2x9
— 433Malaysia (@433Malaysia) August 4, 2026
Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident.Authorities confirmed that 12 other people, including one Malaysian footballer, were injured in the strike and transported to hospital for treatment. No further details about their conditions have been released.
Football community pays tribute
Following confirmation of Awae's death, tributes poured in from across Thai football.The Football Association of Thailand expressed its condolences to the player's family, team-mates and everyone affected by the tragedy.
Yala FC, the professional club Awae had recently joined, also released a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of their new player and offering support to his loved ones.
A rare but devastating hazard
Although lightning-related fatalities on football pitches are uncommon, similar incidents have occurred over the years.In 2004, Chinese footballer Jiang Tao, then aged 18 and playing for Sinchi FC, died after being struck by lightning during a training session at Singapore's former Jurong Stadium.
Singapore also witnessed another fatal lightning incident in 1996 when Secondary 2 student Mohd Amin Mohd Salleh was killed whilst playing football on his school field.
One of the most widely reported football lightning tragedies occurred in 1998 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where reports claimed 11 players from one team were killed after lightning struck during a match. Whilst the story has circulated for decades, several aspects remain disputed and have never been conclusively verified.
Lightning deaths remain a public safety concern
Lightning continues to pose a significant risk across Thailand, particularly during the rainy season.According to Thailand's Department of Disease Control, 283 people lost their lives to lightning strikes between 2020 and 2024, with many victims dying instantly.
Earlier this year, an engineering student and his aunt were killed after lightning struck a shelter in Lampang province.
In a separate incident, a pregnant woman died after seeking refuge beneath a tree during a thunderstorm in Uthai Thani.
The latest tragedy serves as another reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather and the importance of suspending outdoor sporting events whenever lightning is detected nearby.
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