One soccer player has died and several more have been left injured after being struck by lightening during a soccer game in Peru.
Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39, was playing defender in a local televised match between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca when stormy weather descended over the pitch at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca in the central region of Huancayo.
The game was suspended after just 22 minutes due to the adverse weather conditions, but at about 4pm local time, just moments after the match was called off, a bolt of lightning struck the grass.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, the odds of being struck by lightening in a given year are less than one in a million in the US.
Even if someone is struck, almost 90 percent of all lightning strike victims survive. Unfortunately, this was not the case with Jose, who was killed immediately when the bolt struck.
The CDC notes that participating in outdoor recreational activities can put you at greater risk of being struck by lightning, and authorities believe a metal bracelet that Jose was wearing at the time also may have contributed to him being hit.
Cesar Ramos, who is in charge of civil defence in the region, said: “It was like a magnet.”
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The defender was not the only player on the pitch impacted by the strike, with footage showing at least eight players dropping to the ground when a bright flash of light burst on to the pitch.
Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta was among those injured when the lightning struck the ground, and was rushed to hospital to be treated for serious burns, The Telegraph reports.
According to PEOPLE, state news agency Andina reported that Llacta remained in stable condition, however, his condition had improved.
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Two teenagers aged 14 and 16, and a 24-year-old man, were also taken to hospital in the wake of the incident and are said to be in a stable condition.
Those who weren't struck by the lightning rushed off the pitch after the incident.
The game was canceled completely due to the tragedy, with photos later showing scorch marks on the pitch close to where the players had been hit.
Lucho Duarte, an engineer who shared footage of the strike, called for new safety measures amid adverse weather conditions.
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“This terrible incident reminds us of the importance of protection against lightning, especially in open-air events,” he wrote in a post online.
“We need to implement protective systems in sports installations and security protocols involving the immediate suspension of activities during storms.”
Emily Brown