NARATHIWAT, Thailand – A young Thai soccer player was killed and a dozen others injured Tuesday evening when a powerful lightning bolt struck the field during a regional cup match, turning a competitive game into a scene of chaos and tragedy in southern Thailand.
Twenty-four-year-old Sofwan Awae, a recent signing with third-tier club Yala FC, was playing for the SAMCOLTS side against Abu x Nong Sirin in the Golok FA Cup 2026 at Santipap Stadium in Su-ngai Kolok when disaster struck around 5:30 p.m. local time.
Heavy rain had begun falling as the match entered injury time. According to witnesses and video circulating online, a brilliant flash suddenly lit up the pitch, followed by a loud explosion as the lightning bolt slammed into the ground near several players.
Multiple athletes crumpled to the turf. Teammates immediately rushed to Awae’s side, flipping him over and attempting CPR in a desperate bid to save him. Emergency crews later transported the 24-year-old to Sungai Kolok Hospital, but medical staff were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead from severe injuries sustained in the strike.
Police said 12 other players were also hurt, including eight Thai athletes treated locally and at least one Malaysian player, 22-year-old Mohamad Alif Ezzahan Bin Zulkifit, who returned home for further care. The match was abandoned on the spot.
Video footage of the incident, widely shared across social media, captures the terrifying sequence in real time: players chasing the ball under gray skies, the sudden jagged bolt slamming into the field, a burst of light and smoke, and bodies dropping as bystanders under umbrellas look on in horror.
Sungai Kolok police chief Colonel Thun Sirikhunt confirmed the details, noting the tournament draws mixed Thai and Malaysian teams from the border region. Awae, a former Pattani FC player who had only recently joined Yala FC, was described by the club as a promising winger. The team posted a public message of condolence, writing in Arabic and Thai that they extend their deepest sympathies to his family.
The tragedy underscores the deadly risks of outdoor sports during Thailand’s monsoon season, when sudden thunderstorms can turn athletic fields into high-voltage danger zones. Authorities have not indicated whether the match continued despite visible weather threats, but the images have sparked renewed calls for stricter lightning protocols at amateur and regional events.
Awae’s death leaves a family and a small soccer community in mourning. What began as a competitive afternoon of cross-border football ended in the blink of an eye, a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable power.
A note on comments: Our advertisers enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy on racism, hate speech, and threats of violence. Any comment that crosses that line will be removed and the account permanently banned — no warnings. Debate hard, but keep it civil.