Player struck dead by lightning during league match, four others injured

News Express |5th Nov 2024 | 844
Player struck dead by lightning during league match, four others injured

Image of the lightning strike during a football game in Peru




A lighting strike during a local league soccer match in central Peru killed one player and injured four others on Sunday.

Footage of the match showed players walking off the pitch at Coto Coto stadium in the town of Chilca, about 70 kilometers southeast of Lima, after the game had been paused due to a storm.

Several players were seen falling face first to the ground as lightning struck the field. A brief spark and a small cloud of smoke were seen near one of the players, a broadcast on local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancavelic showed.

Seconds later, a few players appeared to struggle to get back up.

The deceased player was identified by authorities and state media as defender Hugo De La Cruz, 39, following the incident in the 22ndminute of the match between local teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.

“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,” the local municipality said a statement. “We also express our support and wishes for a speedy recovery to the other four players injured in this tragic accident.”

As of Monday evening, two players had been discharged from the hospital, while two remain under observation, state news agency Andina reported. A goalkeeper injured in the incident was in critical condition but had shown improvement, it said.

The regional government, the department of Junín, has not commented on the incident. CNN has reached out for more information.

Lightning strikes can cause severe injury to humans and, in rare cases, can be fatal.

The chance of being struck is less than one in a million, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Almost 90% of all lightning strike victims survive, according to the CDC, but the effects can be serious and long-lasting. Survivors have experienced debilitating injuries, burns and symptoms including seizures and memory loss.

In 2020, a 16-year-old Russian goalkeeper survived a lightning strike during a training session. Footage of the freak incident showed the teenager was hit by the bolt as he went to kick a ball into the goal, while his teammates trained near the touchline.

Though he suffered severe burns and doctors put him into an induced coma, the teenager made a remarkable recovery weeks later. (CNN, excluding headline)




Comments

Post Comment

Access Bank CEO buys £15m mansion on London Billionaires’ Row — Report

Access Bank CEO buys £15m mansion on London Billionaires’ Row — Report

Group reacts to alleged death sentence on Ex-Governor Ikpeazu, demands transparency and accountability from Abia Govt

Group reacts to alleged death sentence on Ex-Governor Ikpeazu, demands transparency and accountability from Abia Govt

Coastal Highway: Umahi under fire for dragging Tinubu’s name into demolition dispute

Coastal Highway: Umahi under fire for dragging Tinubu’s name into demolition dispute

NAPTIP Storms Abuja Airport, Arrests Five Suspected Human Traffickers, Frees 24 Victims

NAPTIP Storms Abuja Airport, Arrests Five Suspected Human Traffickers, Frees 24 Victims

Independence Day: How Tinubu Chose Lagos Over Nigeria’s Capital City

Independence Day: How Tinubu Chose Lagos Over Nigeria’s Capital City

Independence Day: Nigeria Has Been Greatly Diminished Under APC’s Leadership — Obi

Independence Day: Nigeria Has Been Greatly Diminished Under APC’s Leadership — Obi

Truck Accidents Are Claiming More Lives Than Anybody Talks About

Truck Accidents Are Claiming More Lives Than Anybody Talks About

CJN approves online applications for lawyers seeking “Notary Public” status

CJN approves online applications for lawyers seeking “Notary Public” status

Police begin enforcement of tinted glass permit nationwide Thursday

Police begin enforcement of tinted glass permit nationwide Thursday

ADC raises alarm over proposed sale of oil assets

ADC raises alarm over proposed sale of oil assets

Abia poly abolishes statements of result

Abia poly abolishes statements of result

DSS DG Orders Release of Wrongfully Arrested Businesswoman, Others, Awards N20m Compensation

DSS DG Orders Release of Wrongfully Arrested Businesswoman, Others, Awards N20m Compensation

IPOB condemns Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, rejects allegations of terrorism

IPOB condemns Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, rejects allegations of terrorism

Cross River PDP defies National EXCO, affirms congress legitimacy

Cross River PDP defies National EXCO, affirms congress legitimacy

FULL LIST: Governor Adeleke grants amnesty to 36 convicts to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day

FULL LIST: Governor Adeleke grants amnesty to 36 convicts to mark Nigeria’s Independence Day

Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup Qualification Important To Give Africa A Voice, Odegbami Tells Osimhen, Others

Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup Qualification Important To Give Africa A Voice, Odegbami Tells Osimhen, Others

Tems makes history as first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10m units in US

Tems makes history as first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10m units in US

42 dead in latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

42 dead in latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

Deconstructing Personal Income tax under Nigeria’s new tax law

Deconstructing Personal Income tax under Nigeria’s new tax law

Police dismisses claims of Anambra witnessing 14 political assassinations in two years

Police dismisses claims of Anambra witnessing 14 political assassinations in two years

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 11:00 PM
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on

GOCOP Accredited Member

GOCOP Accredited member
logo

NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.

Contact

Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State.
+234(0)8098020976, 07013416146, 08066020976
info@newsexpressngr.com

Find us on

Facebook
Twitter

Copyright NewsExpress Nigeria 2025