Thai footballer killed, 12 injured by lightning strike during match

A football match in Thailand's southern Narathiwat province turned tragic on Tuesday evening when lightning struck the pitch, killing one player and injuring 12 others. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. local time at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok town, during the semi-final of the regional Golok FA Cup tournament. Heavy rain accompanied the storm that led to the fatal strike.

The match was between the Abu x Nong Sirin team and SAMCOLT, a mixed team of Thai and Malaysian players. The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Sofwan Awae, a winger for Yala FC, who had recently signed with the third-tier semi-professional club. Reports indicate he was playing for the Abu x Nong Sirin team at the time of the incident.

Emergency services rushed to the scene following an emergency call. Despite efforts by medical teams to save him, Sofwan succumbed to his severe injuries. The Golok FA Cup features several Malaysian teams, highlighting the cross-border participation in the regional tournament. Sungai Golok is situated near the border with Malaysia's Kelantan state.

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Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident.