A regional football match in southern Thailand ended in tragedy on Tuesday (August 4) after 24-year-old Sofwan Awae was killed when lightning struck the field during the game. The incident, which took place in Sungai Golok in Narathiwat province, also left 12 other players injured.
Police said the incident occurred at around 5:30 pm local time during stormy weather as the semi-final of the Golok FA Cup was being played at Santiphap Stadium. Despite the deteriorating conditions, the match continued until lightning struck the pitch.
According to local reports, Awae suffered critical injuries in the strike. Emergency responders and medical personnel immediately attempted to revive him before taking him to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared dead.
"Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident," Sungai Golok police chief Col. Thun Sirikhunt told Bernama, Malaysia's state news agency.
Videos widely shared on social media captured the moment of the lightning strike, showing a bright flash followed by a loud explosion. Several players collapsed instantly as panic spread across the stadium.
Players, match officials and spectators rushed onto the field to assist the injured while emergency services responded to the scene.
Awae, who played as a winger, had recently joined Thai League 3 club Yala FC, completing his move only days before the fatal incident.
"We extend our condolences to the family of our new FC Yala player, Sofwan Awae," the club said in a Facebook post. The message began with a verse from the Quran commonly recited in such circumstances: "Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return."
The Football Association of Thailand also expressed its condolences to Awae's family and to Yala FC.
