A tragic incident occurred when a 24-year-old individual lost their life due to an unexpected lightning strike during a football match. The unfortunate event took place at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok, where Thai and Malaysian teams were competing in the Golo FA Cup 2026 semi-final. Despite immediate medical assistance, the victim could not survive the severe injuries sustained.
A distressing video shared on social media captured the moment when lightning struck the field during a spirited soccer match played in the rain, leading to a sudden explosion. In the footage, Sofwan Awae, wearing a black-and-white striped jersey, was seen lying on the ground after the strike, prompting his teammates and staff members to rush to his aid.
Sungai Golok police chief Thun Sirikhunt confirmed that despite the efforts of the emergency medical team, the victim succumbed to the injuries caused by the incident. The lightning strike also resulted in several players collapsing, with 12 individuals sustaining injuries, as reported by Mirror US.
Awae, a winger for SAMCOLTS, had recently inked a deal with the Thai third-division club Yala FC. Among the injured was 22-year-old Malaysian footballer Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, who was promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention.
