Peruvian football sees tragic incident amidst football match leading to the death of a footballer and 5 others injured.
Peruvian football league sees Lightning kill a 34-year-old player and injure five others.
The initial lightning strike stopped Sunday’s match between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca in Huancayo province, which is roughly 70 km southeast of Lima. However, as the players started to leave the pitch, another bolt struck them. After a loud crack, eight of the players are seen collapsing in the video.
Hugo de la Cruz, a defender for Familia Chocca, passed on en route to the hospital, according to the local government.
“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,” it 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.”
On Monday, two athletes were released from the hospital, while two more were placed under observation and one was in critical condition but was improving. Approximately 90% of individuals struck by lightning survive, according to the US Centres for Disease Control, albeit they may suffer from serious burns and memory loss.
The weekend tragedy was the first recorded lightning-related death in Peru, despite the fact that lightning has previously injured players during football games there. However, lightning has already killed players on a global scale. Luyanda Ntshangase, a midfielder for Maritzburg United of South Africa, was killed by lightning during a friendly match in 2018.