Soccer Player Dies from Lightning Strike, 4 Injured at Match in Peru

A soccer player was killed by a lightning strike during a game on Sunday in Peru, according to Peruvian state news service Andina and Reuters.

José Hugo De la Cruz Meza, a defender in his 30s, was killed in the strike. Goaltender Juan Chocca Llacta was severely burned and taken to a hospital in critical condition, per Andina and El Colombiano. Three other players were also injured, per Andina.

The incident took place during a match between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca at Coto Coto stadium in Chilca, located in the province of Huancayo.

Players and referees were walking off the field after the match was suspended due to weather when there was a direct strike of lightning to the pitch. Video showed multiple players falling to the ground after the strike.

The local municipality said in a statement shared on Facebook that De La Cruz had died on his way to the hospital.

Local authorities said that De la Cruz’s death may have been caused by the metal bracelet he was wearing, Kieran Kelly reported for the Telegraph.

According to Kelly, “there have been growing concerns over the safety of the football matches in Huancayo, a high-altitude region where lighting strikes are frequent.”

A player for Sport Aguila was injured by a lightning strike in the same region in 2014, according to a previous report by the Mirror. In Indonesia, a soccer player named Septian Raharja died after he was hit by a lightning bolt during a game in February.