Indonesian Footballer Dies After Being Struck By Lightning During Game
An eyewitness said the player's cleats caught on fire.
By Sadho Ram — 13 Feb 2024, 10:56 AM
A 35-year-old football player died after he was struck by lightning during a match in Indonesia's West Java province over the weekend
The disturbing incident was caught on camera.
The footage, which has been widely shared on social media, showed the footballer, Septian Raharja, being hit by a bright flash and then collapsing to the ground during the friendly match on Saturday, 10 February.
The tragic incident occurred during the first half of the friendly match between 2flo Football Club Bandung and FBI Subang at Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung, West Java, reported Kompas.
There had initially been clear when the match started. However, during the second half of the match, there was a sudden change in weather and dark clouds started to gather around the stadium.
Septian, who was still breathing after he was struck at around 3.30pm, was later pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital
It was reported that the football player had burns all over his body.
According to PRFMnews, his jersey was torn as a result of the lightning strike. He was declared dead after being taken to Sariningsih Hospital just over a kilometre away from the Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung.
Both teams that were playing in the friendly match posted a photograph of Septian on their Instagram accounts, expressing their condolences for the departed player
