Footballer d!es after being struck by lightning during match

A football player in Peru has tragically died, and several others were injured after being struck by lightning during a match on Sunday afternoon.

Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39, was playing in a local game in Huancayo between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca when the referee halted play due to an approaching storm.

Reports suggest that De La Cruz Meza was killed instantly as the lightning struck the field.

Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, 40, was also hit and is currently receiving treatment for serious burns at the Daniel Alcides Carrion regional hospital.

Additionally, two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, along with a 24-year-old named Cristian Cesar Pituy Cahuana, were hospitalized and are reported to be in stable condition.

Social media footage showed the players leaving the pitch at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca as the storm worsened.

Around eight players collapsed when the lightning struck, leading to the immediate abandonment of the match, which was at a score of 2-0.

Cesar Ramos, the manager of Civil Defense in the region, stated that De La Cruz Meza’s metal bracelet may have contributed to his death, saying, “It was like a magnet.” 

Tributes on social media expressed condolences for the player’s family and club, while also calling for improved safety measures.

The stadium is located in a high-altitude area, with Huancayo sitting at 10,659 feet above sea level, where fatal lightning strikes are not uncommon.

Many commentators urged for more lightning rods to be installed at football venues.

Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates