A football match in southern Thailand ended in tragedy after lightning struck the pitch, killing a 24-year-old player and injuring 12 other people.
The incident happened on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat Province. The teams were taking part in the Golok FA Cup, a regional football tournament.
Reports said the match had just ended when heavy rain and thunder moved over the stadium.The player who died was identified as Safwan Awae, also reported as Sofwan Awae.
He was a winger who played for Yala FC in Thailand. A lightning bolt struck the centre of the pitch, causing several players and other people nearby to fall to the ground.
Safwan suffered serious injuries in the incident. Teammates and emergency workers quickly tried to help him before he was taken to Sungai Kolok Hospital.
Despite efforts by doctors and medical teams, he later died from his injuries. Police confirmed that the young footballer could not be saved. Twelve other people were injured in the lightning strike.
Some suffered burns and other injuries and were also taken to hospital for treatment. Among those injured was Malaysian footballer Mohamed Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, who was playing for a mixed Thai and Malaysian team.
The match was abandoned after the incident. Police said they had started investigations as authorities worked to establish the full details of what happened.
The death has shocked football fans in Thailand and Malaysia. Safwan was still young and had been building his career in Thai football. His sudden death has also raised concerns about the safety of outdoor sporting events during storms.
Experts regularly advise sports organisers to stop matches when lightning and thunder are nearby. The 30-30 safety rule recommends stopping outdoor activities when the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is 30 seconds or less.
Players and spectators should also wait for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning to the field. The tragedy has left Safwan’s family, teammates and supporters mourning the loss of a promising footballer.
Tributes are expected to continue as the football community remembers the player who died while taking part in the sport he loved.