One soccer player has died with others getting injured after a lightning strike hit the ground at a soccer game in Peru.
The game, which was planned to take place at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca, had been suspended 22 minutes in, due to harsh weather conditions. Lightning struck before the players could leave the field killing one and injuring several others.
The match was televised
The local match between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca in Coto Coto stadium in Chilca in the central region of Huancayo was televised when it had to be canceled because of adverse weather.
The stormy skies made it difficult to play and people were going home.
One player got struck by lightning
The soccer game only lasted 22 minutes when those in charge decided it was better to end it as the weather made the whole event dangerous.
As everyone prepared to leave, a lightning strike hit the grass at 4pm local time, just moments after the match was called off.
A defense player was struck
Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, a 39-year-old player, was there playing defense position when he was caught by the lightning strike.
The player was tragically killed immediately upon being hit by the electric bolt. Others around him also got hurt.
The odds of being struck are slim
The odds of being struck by lightning are quite slim, with the Centers for Disease Control stating that they are less than one in a million in any given year in the US.
They also state that the odds of it happening to one person multiple times are even slimmer.
Most lightning strike victims survive
According to the CDC, even if a person gets struck by the electric bolt, almost 90 percent of lightning strike victims survive the hit.
They also point out that outdoor activities can put a person at a higher risk of being struck.
Jose was wearing a metal bracelet
Authorities also believe that a metal bracelet that was worn by the deceased soccer player may have played a part in him getting struck.
The person in charge of civil defense in the region, Cesar Ramos, said the bracelet was “like a magnet.”
Other players were also impacted
Jose was not the only player on the field to be affected by the lightning.
Footage released from the Peru match shows at least eight other players falling to the ground as the bright flash of electricity hit the grass.
One player was rushed to the hospital
According to The Telegraph, among the injured was goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta who was taken to the hospital after suffering serious burns.
State news agency Andina later reported that he was in a stable condition and was improving, according to People.
Spectators were also treated
Among those who were also rushed to the hospital were two teenagers aged 14 and 16 who had been at the game, as well as a 24-year-old man.
Others were able to rush to safety after the lightning hit, and the game was later completely canceled.
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Safety measures are due for such weather
“This terrible incident reminds us of the importance of protection against lightning, especially in open-air events,” wrote Lucho Duarte, an engineer who shared the footage online.
“We need to implement protective systems in sports installations and security protocols involving the immediate suspension of activities during storms,” he added, calling for better safety measures.
