A local football match in southern Thailand ended in sudden tragedy on August 4 when a direct lightning strike on the pitch claimed the life of a 24-year-old player and left 12 others injured. The horrifying scene, which unfolded at the Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok, was captured on video during a Golok FA Cup fixture between local side SAMCOLTS and Abu x Nong Sirin, a regional tournament featuring both Thai and Malaysian amateur teams.
Thailand footballer dies mid-match due to lightning
The fatality was confirmed as SAMCOLTS winger Sofwan Awae, a promising athlete who had recently secured a professional contract with Thai League 3 outfit Yala FC. According to local police chief Thun Sirikhunt, Awae sustained severe trauma when the bolt hit the pitch directly. First responders rushed him to a medical facility, but emergency personnel were unable to revive him.
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Video footage of the disaster shows a blinding flash and a deafening blast instantly illuminating the pitch as the lightning struck. Teammates in black-and-white stripes rushed to the fallen winger, turning him over and attempting emergency CPR as they awaited paramedics.
Watch the video here:
The circulating clip sparked an outpouring of grief online, with observers expressing shock at the sudden loss of life and reflecting on the unpredictable dangers of playing through severe weather. Many offered condolences to Awae's family while recalling traditional warnings about remaining indoors during intense thunderstorms.
In addition to the fatal blow, local authorities confirmed that 12 other athletes—including a player from Malaysia—sustained injuries from the strike and were transported to a nearby hospital for medical care.
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Data from Thailand’s Department of Disease Control highlights the widespread threat of lightning strikes, recording at least 283 incidents nationwide between 2020 and 2024, a significant number of which resulted in immediate fatalities at the scene.
Tragic incidents earlier this year further underscore these dangers, as reported by The Independent. In May, an engineering student and his aunt were killed instantly when lightning hit a hut in Lampang province. That same month, a 30-year-old pregnant woman lost her life in Uthai Thani province after taking shelter beneath a tree alongside her husband during a fishing trip.