Footballer Died By Lightning Strike During Friendly Match In Sukabumi

Cisaat Police and Sukabumi City Police personnel conducting a crime scene investigation of the death of a footballer in the Korpri Field, Cisaat District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java/ANTARA/Aditia Aulia Rohman

SUKABUMI - A footballer died on the spot due to being struck by lightning during a friendly match between Pepermi FC and YGS FC at the Indonesian Civil Service Corps (Korpri) Field, Cisaat, Sukabumi Regency, West Java.

"The victim who died is known to be Edi Kurniawan (45), a resident of Cangkorah Village, RT 008/004, Cikaret Village, Kebonpedes District, Sukabumi Regency," said Sukabumi City Police Chief AKBP SY Zainal Abidin in Sukabum as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, August 13.

According to information gathered from the police, the incident began during the friendly match between Pepermi FC and YGS FC at the Cisaat Korpri Field. When the game just entered the 15th minute, suddenly lightning struck several times.

The referee who saw the unfavorable weather conditions asked the match to be temporarily suspended.

However, suddenly the lightning struck again. All players, spectators, and the committee were surprised to see one of the Pepermi FC players number 13 on the back of the name Edi Kurniawan laughing in the middle of the field.

Health workers immediately went to the center of the field to provide first aid. However, the victim did not respond at all, so they were taken to Betha Medika Cisaat Hospital for medical treatment. However, unfortunately the life of this man who works as an entrepreneur cannot be saved.

After the post-mortem et repertum, it was discovered that there were a number of burns on several parts of his body due to a lightning strike. After undergoing an examination, the body of the football player was handed over to his family for immediate burial.

Before this disaster occurred, said Zainal, the stadium manager and referee asked to postpone the match because of the rain, especially the sound of lightning several times.

However, before the referee blew the whistle to signal the postponement of the match, lightning struck again, then hit one of the football players who was in the middle of the field.

"We have asked for information from a number of witnesses related to the incident. The case of the death of one of the footballers was purely the result of an accident or being struck by lightning," he said.