Lightning strike kills Thai footballer, injures nine during cup match

A football match in southern Thailand tragically ended Tuesday when a lightning strike killed a player and injured nine others. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. at Santipap Stadium in Sungai Golok, Narathiwat province, amid heavy rain during the Golok FA Cup 2026. Sofwan Awae, a 24-year-old winger recently signed with Yala FC, was struck and died at the scene. Fellow players attempted resuscitation before emergency medical teams arrived, but their efforts were unsuccessful. At least nine other individuals sustained injuries, including Malaysian player Mohamad Alif Ezzahan Bin Zulkifli. Eight Thai players and officials received hospital treatment. Sofwan's family has requested that videos of the incident not be circulated out of respect for his memory and their privacy. The tragedy has prompted renewed demands for stricter lightning safety measures at outdoor sporting events, particularly in areas prone to thunderstorms. Experts recommend suspending matches immediately upon lightning detection and moving participants to shelter until conditions improve.

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Sofwan's family has appealed to the public not to circulate videos of the incident out of respect for his memory and the family's privacy.