Soccer Player Killed by Lightning Strike During Match in Peru

A tragic incident unfolded during a local league soccer match in central Peru on Sunday when a lightning strike killed one player and injured four others.

The match, held at Coto Coto Stadium in Chilca, a town about 70 kilometres southeast of Lima, had been paused due to a storm when the lightning struck. Footage from the game shows players walking off the pitch when suddenly several collapsed as the lightning hit. A brief flash and a small plume of smoke appeared near one of the players, as seen in a broadcast by local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancavelica.

Among those struck was Hugo De La Cruz, a 39-year-old defender, who was identified as the deceased by local authorities and state media. The incident occurred 22 minutes into the match between the teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca. Other players initially struggled to get back on their feet after the lightning hit.

As of Monday evening, two of the injured players had been discharged from the hospital, while two others remain under observation. One goalkeeper, who was critically injured, had shown signs of improvement, according to state news agency Andina.