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When a thunderstorm approaches, don’t walk, run for cover.
Unfortunately, some Peruvian soccer players didn’t heed this lesson and one man played the ultimate price.
One soccer player in Peru died and four others suffered varying injuries after lightning struck the field they had been playing on during a game on Sunday.
Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39, had been competing in a local clash between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca in the central Peruvian locale of Huancayo when the referee halted the match as a thunderstorm approached.
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As he was walking off the pitch with his fellow players, de la Cruz Meza is believed to have been killed instantly, as per the Sun, after lightning hit the field. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, 40, was among those who received a direct strike and is said to have suffered from severe burns from the incident. He is being treated at the Daniel Alcides Carrion regional hospital.
Cristian Cesar Pituy Cahuana, 24, and two unnamed teenagers also were taken to hospital and reportedly are in “stable condition.”
Footage on social media appears to show the defender walking off the pitch at the Coto Coto stadium in Chilca with his fellow players.
After the lightning stuck a player to the right of a large group, around eight players are seen falling to the ground.
The match was immediately abandoned in the wake of the tragedy.
According to the Associated Press, the manager of the Civil Defense in the region Cesar Ramos has claimed that De La Cruz Meza was killed due to a metal bracelet he was wearing.
“It was like a magnet,” the official said.
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Unfortunately, fatal lightning strikes are not uncommon in the area.
The capital city in the Huancaya region is located at 10,659 feet above sea level and a number of commentors called for an increased number of lightning rods at football grounds after this latest incident.
Lucho Duarte, the engineer who shared footage of the incident, stressed the need to for further safety measures.
“This terrible incident reminds us of the importance of protection against lightning, especially in open-air events,” he said.
“We need to implement protective systems in sports installations and security protocols involving the immediate suspension of activities during storms.”