A tragic incident occurred when lightning struck and killed 39-year-old defender Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza during a regional football tournament in Chilca, Peru. The event happened around 4 p.m. local time, as players were leaving the field after the referee halted the game due to storms. Thunder echoed through the stadium as Meza fell face-first to the ground.
The match between local teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca was called off with Juventud leading 2-0 after 22 minutes. Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, 40, suffered a direct lightning strike and was rushed to the hospital with serious burns. Three more players—two teenagers aged 16 and 19, and 24-year-old Cristian Cesar Pituy Cahuana—were taken to the hospital and are reportedly in stable condition.
The strike affected at least eight players, leaving the sporting community in disbelief and mourning. The tragedy has sparked calls for improved safety measures at open-air sports events, particularly in high-altitude regions like Huancayo, situated 10,659 feet above sea level.
Engineer Lucho Duarte emphasized the need for better lightning protection and stricter suspension protocols during adverse weather, writing online, “This incident reminds us of the importance of protection against lightning, especially in open-air events.”
This isn’t the first incident to claim a life on the field. During a friendly game between FBI Subang and FLO FC Bandung in February, 35-year-old Indonesian football player Septain Raharja passed away from a lightning strike. He was taken to the hospital still breathing but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Meza’s death, honored in online tributes, has an impacted his community and beyond, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures for players in regions prone to extreme weather.
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