A footballer has lost his life, while 12 others were left injured after a lightning strike during a match in Thailand.
The game was interrupted by a powerful monsoon storm, leaving players caught in heavy rainfall.
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Footage from the incident captures the moment lightning struck the pitch just metres away from players as they were running.
A burst of flames is visible at the base of a thick column of smoke following the strike.
The lightning strike claimed the life of Safwan Awae and injured 12 other players on the field.
: Safwan Awae, a player for a Thai League 3 club, has sadly after being struck by lightning during a Kolok FA Cup match in Thailand.
Our heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone affected by this…
— Football Faithfuls (@FootyFaithfuls) August 5, 2026
The 24-year-old footballer was directly hit by the bolt and died as a result of the incident.
Fans and bystanders rushed onto the pitch in an attempt to resuscitate him after he collapsed.
Paramedics arrived shortly afterward, administering emergency treatment before transporting Awae to a nearby hospital.
Authorities later confirmed his death and said that 12 other people sustained burn injuries, among them 22-year-old Malaysian footballer Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli.
“Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident,” said police chief Thun Sirikhunt.
Awae had only recently joined FC Yala, a club that competes in Thailand’s League 3 Southern Region.
Paying tribute to their late player on Facebook, the club posted: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return.”
“Condolences to the family of Safwan Awae, the new player of FC Yala.”
The fatal incident took place during the Golok Cup regional tournament at Santiphap Stadium in Thailand’s Narathiwat province.
