A tragic lightning strike during the Golok FA Cup 2026 semi-final in southern Thailand claimed the life of 24-year-old footballer Sofwan Awae and injured 12 other players on Tuesday, bringing an abrupt end to the match as emergency medical teams rushed onto the pitch. The incident occurred at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok, where players from Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia were competing in one of the region's biggest cross-border football tournaments.
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Lightning strikes during Golok FA Cup semi-final
According to Thai media reports, the incident unfolded during the Golok FA Cup semi-final fixture between SAMCOLTS and Abu x Nong Sirin at Santiphap Stadium in Narathiwat province as heavy rain lashed the venue.
The Golok FA Cup is a regional cross-border football tournament created to promote sporting ties between communities in Thailand's southern border provinces and neighbouring clubs from Malaysia, including teams from Kelantan.
Videos circulating on social media captured the terrifying moment a lightning bolt struck near the centre of the pitch, followed by a loud explosion that sent several players collapsing to the ground.
Players, officials and medical staff immediately rushed onto the field as the match was halted.
Sofwan Awae dies despite emergency efforts
Police identified the deceased as 24-year-old Sofwan Awae, a winger for SAMCOLTS who had also reportedly recently signed for Thai third-division club Yala FC.
According to police chief Thun Sirikhunt, Awae suffered critical injuries after the lightning strike and was rushed to hospital. Despite sustained efforts by emergency medical teams to save him, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Footage circulating online appeared to show Awae's teammates quickly turning him onto his back before attempting to resuscitate him while waiting for medical personnel to arrive.
Twelve players injured in the incident
Police said 12 players were injured during the lightning strike and taken to hospital for treatment.
Among those hurt was 22-year-old Malaysian footballer Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, who was also receiving medical care following the incident.
The match, contested between SAMCOLTS and Abu x Nong Sirin, was immediately abandoned as emergency services secured the stadium and attended to the injured players.
Tributes pour in after tragedy
Following confirmation of Awae's death, tributes began emerging from across Thailand's football community.
Thai media reported that Yala FC and the Football Association of Thailand expressed their condolences to Awae's family, friends and teammates, while supporters flooded social media with messages honouring the young winger.
The heartbreaking incident has cast a shadow over the Golok FA Cup, a tournament that has long served as a symbol of sporting friendship between southern Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia.
Rare but devastating incidents
Although lightning strikes at football matches are uncommon, they have resulted in tragic consequences on previous occasions.
The latest incident has drawn comparisons with one of football's most infamous weather-related tragedies in 1998, when a lightning strike during a match in the Democratic Republic of Congo reportedly killed 11 players from one team.
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