Footballer tragically killed after lightning strikes pitch in Peru

A football player in Peru has died and more have suffered injuries after being struck by lightning during a match on Sunday afternoon. 

Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39, had been taking part in a local clash in the central Peruvian locale of Huancayo between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca just moments after the referee had halted play due to the brewing storm. 

De La Cruz Meza is believed to have been killed instantly, as per the Sun, with a number of players injured as the lightning hit the pitch. 

Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, 40, was among those who received a direct strike and is said to be suffering from serious burns at the Daniel Alcides Carrion regional hospital. 

Two teenagers aged 14 and 16, and a 24-year-old, Cristian Cesar Pituy Cahuana, were also taken to hospital and are said to be in a 'stable condition'. 

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show the defender heading off the pitch at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca with the two teams as the storm intensified. 

Around eight players fell to the ground as the lightning came down, with the 2-0 match immediately abandoned in the wake of the tragedy. 

As per AP, the manager of the Civil Defense in the region Cesar Ramos has claimed that De La Cruz Meza was killed due to the metal bracelet he was wearing. 

'It was like a magnet,' the official said.  

Tributes shared on social media offered condolences for the player's family and the club while also calling for greater safety measures. 

The stadium is set in a high-altitude area - the capital city in the Huancaya region is 10,659 feet above sea level - where fatal lightning strikes are no freak occurence, and a number of commentors called for an increased number of lightning rods at football grounds. 

The engineer who shared footage of the incident, Lucho Duarte stressed the need to 'establish' safety protocols with suspension of activities in the event of storms' as well as the implementation of a lightning rod system to provide greater safety at outdoor events. 

In the last year, there have been a number of tragedies in similar circumstances at matches around the world. 

In February, Septain Raharja was killed while playing in a friendly football match in Indonesia when he was hit by a lightning bolt, and December 2023 saw Brazilian player Caio Henrique de Lima Goncalves die when the pitch was struck while playing for Uniao Jaiirense in a cup fixture. 

Goncalves was rushed to hospital in the wake of the accident but later passed away from his injuries.