Lightning Strikes Football World as Electrocuted Players and Officials From Charlemont and Dinthill Rushed for Medical Treatment

Few tragedies can rival the devastation that unfolded on that fateful Tuesday afternoon. It was a grim reminder of a haunting incident that had struck an entire soccer team back in 1998. Moreover, it has been taking away the lives of many young sports figures. This Tuesday, as young athletes pursued their daCosta Cup dreams, destiny took a sinister turn.

The game ended abruptly, and a chilling incident sent shockwaves through the crowd, leaving onlookers in deep anguish. In a surreal moment, several players collapsed simultaneously due to lightning strikes. It plunged spectators into chaos.

Horrific lightning strikes injured many players

Over six players and an assistant referee found themselves in a harrowing situation on Tuesday afternoon. It happened during the Charlemont vs. Dinthill daCosta Cup match in St. Catherine. According to reports, just half an hour after the 3:30 p.m. kick-off at Charlemont soccer field, lightning struck.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, following earlier rain in Costa Rica. Following the incident, all injured players and a referee were rushed to Linstead Hospital. Hospital sources said they will remain under observation until the medical team deems them stable enough for discharge.

Read more: A Day After Shocking Turn of Events, Lightning Strike Victims Group Targets Drew Brees And ‘Inappropriate’ Advertisement

Tragically, this is not the first time such a calamity has occurred during a game. One haunting example harks back to 1998 when an entire soccer team met a devastating fate due to a lightning strike.

What happened in 1998?

The tragic incident involving Bena Tshadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo holds a grim record for lightning strikes. During a friendly match, this catastrophic event claimed the lives of all eleven players on the team and left numerous spectators injured. It was in October 1998 when Bena Tshadi and Basanga were locked in a 1-1 draw in the eastern province of Kasai when lightning struck without warning.

L’Avenir, a Kinshasa daily newspaper, reported, “Lightning killed at a stroke 11 young people aged between 20 and 35 years during a football match.” The report also mentioned that 30 others suffered burns. Strangely, the athletes from Basanga emerged from the disaster unharmed. Some attributed this incident to black magic, a belief common in central and western Africa. However, local reports and newspapers confirmed it was indeed a lightning strike, underscoring the danger it poses to those in the world of sports.

Statistics reveal that approximately 10% of individuals struck by lightning do not survive, while the remaining 90% endure varying degrees of disability. In the NFL world too, former San Diego Chargers player Doug Miller died in 1998 after being struck by lightning twice in Colorado during a campaign trip. In light of such tragic incidents, thoughts and prayers now go out to the young schoolboy players in Costa Rica.

Watch this story: We are all gut wrenched”: 8-year-old horse suffers horrifying fate after falling down a 100-foot-embankment