Lightning strike kills football player in Peru | Football News

A football player was killed while five others were injured when lightning struck during a match in Peru, according to various reports.
The deceased player was identified as 39-year-old Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza who fell face first on to the ground after he was struck a lightning bolt and was killed instantly.
Juan Chocca Llacta, a 40-year-old goalkeeper who also was struck was rushed to hospital with serious burns to his body. Two teenagers aged 16 and 19 and a 24-year-old named Crian Cesar Pituy Cahuana who were also injured were said to be stable, according to a report Mirror.

🚨🇵🇪LIGHTNING STRIKES SOCCER MATCH IN PERU
Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39, was killed instantly, and 5 players were injured during a regional tournament in Chilca.
Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, 40, also received a direct strike and was rushed to hospital in a taxi with serious… pic.twitter.com/7zdnwAoc8c
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 4, 2024
The incident occurred during a regional tournament in Chilca in a match between two local teams called Juventud Bellava and Familia Chocca. Bellava were 2-0 up in 22 minutes when the game was abandoned due to the tragedy.
In February of this year, an Indonesian footballer had died after he was hit lightning during a friendly match between 2 FLO FC Bandung and FBI Subang.
Video was captured the exact moment the 35-year-old male victim from Subang collapsed at Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung, West Java. The man, later identified as Septain Raharja.
As per the local media PRFM News the footballer was still breathing after the incident and rushed to a local hospital, but died after suffering intense burns.
The tragic incident was the second time an Indonesian footballer has been struck lightning in the last 12 months.
A young football player in Bojonegoro, East Java was struck lightning during the Soeratin U-13 Cup in 2023.

In 2023, a 21-year-old Brazilian footballer was also struck lightning while on the pitch in Brazil.