9 Boys Struck by Lightning While Playing Football, 3 Dead
In a tragic incident that has left an entire community in shock, nine young boys were struck by lightning while playing football in Anambra, Nigeria. Three of them tragically lost their lives, while the remaining six were revived and are currently receiving medical treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, the boys were practicing football on the school’s pitch, barefooted, in preparation for an upcoming tournament when the unexpected tragedy struck. The coach had already ended the training session due to the approaching rain, but some of the students decided to continue playing. Suddenly, lightning accompanied by deafening claps of thunderstorm enveloped the area, and the boys were struck in the process.
A teacher who heard the students screaming and running rushed to the field and witnessed the horrifying scene unfold. At least nine students were trembling and jerking on the turf. The alarm was raised, and people quickly gathered to provide assistance. The boys were immediately rushed to the school clinic and subsequently transferred to a hospital in Awka.
At the hospital, parents and sympathizers gathered anxiously as they received updates on the condition of the survivors. Tragically, three of the boys were admitted to the hospital already deceased, while six others were successfully resuscitated and are now under medical care.
This is an incredibly saddening incident. If only they had been wearing boots, the impact of the lightning might have been minimized, expressed a doctor at the hospital who requested anonymity.
In response to the incident, local residents have been left spellbound, mourning the loss and praying for the recovery of the survivors. Authorities have not yet been notified, according to a police spokesman in Anambra. However, an expert in pathology, Professor Chukwudi Okani, emphasized that this was a natural disaster and not a spiritual occurrence.
Professor Okani explained that lightning can cause fatalities through direct strike, side splash, or ground current strike. He advised individuals to install thunder arrestors in their buildings to mitigate the risk of electrical currents during lightning events.
The devastating incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of natural disasters and the importance of taking proper precautions. As the community mourns the loss of three young lives, it is hoped that lessons will be learned, and safety measures will be put in place to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Keywords: lightning strike, football players, tragic incident, Nigeria, medical treatment, survival, mourning, safety measures
