A lightning strike tragically claimed the life of one player and left four others injured during a lower-division league match in Peru on Sunday, November 3, 2025.
The game, held at Coto Coto Stadium between Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca, had been paused due to worsening weather conditions when the incident occurred.
Footage aired by local broadcaster Onda Deportiva Huancavelica showed players beginning to exit the field as a storm intensified.
Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck two players directly: Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza and goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta. The force of the impact sent the rest of the players to the ground.
De la Cruz was killed instantly, while Llacta was rushed to the hospital by taxi, with a total of five players sustaining injuries. Among those injured were two teenagers, aged 16 and 19, who were treated for minor injuries following the incident.
“We join in solidarity and extend our sincere condolences to the family of young Hugo De La Cruz, who, after being struck by lightning, unfortunately lost his life while being taken to the hospital.
We also express our support and wishes for a speedy recovery to the other four players injured in this tragic accident,” the local municipality said in a statement quoted by CNN.
Peruvian national news channel Andina has reported that two of the four injured players have been discharged, while the other two are in stable condition but remain under medical observation.
The last recorded incident of this kind occurred in 2020, when a 16-year-old Russian goalkeeper was struck by lightning during a training session.
He survived the traumatic experience and made a full recovery after undergoing intensive treatment, which included being placed in a coma.