Narathiwat police reported that Safwan Awae collapsed immediately after the lightning bolt hit the pitch at Santiphap Stadium in Su-ngai Kolok district amid a heavy downpour. Twelve players suffered burns and other injuries in the strike, among them 22-year-old Malaysian footballer Mohammad Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli. The match was abandoned as players and spectators fled in panic, with video footage showing a bright flash followed by smoke rising from the field.
According to local authorities, emergency crews rushed onto the pitch to treat the injured players before transporting Awae to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Zulkifli and the other injured individuals received medical care for their burns, with none reported in critical condition after the initial assessment. Police have since examined the circumstances of the strike as part of standard procedure following the fatal incident.
The game formed part of the Golok Cup regional tournament, which often features cross-border teams from southern Thailand and neighboring Malaysia. Awae played as a right winger for Yala FC, a side competing in Thai League 3, while the Malaysian participant highlighted the event’s appeal across the border area. Spectators who witnessed the strike described a sudden flash that caused multiple players to fall before chaos erupted in the stands.
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control figures show that 283 people were struck by lightning nationwide from 2020 to 2024, with a notable concentration of cases during the annual monsoon season. Southern provinces such as Narathiwat experience frequent thunderstorms that elevate risks for outdoor activities, prompting routine advisories from meteorologists. Officials have long urged event organizers to monitor weather conditions closely and suspend matches at the first detection of lightning.
Viral video clips distributed by news outlets captured the precise moment the bolt hit, showing flames and a plume of smoke before bystanders rushed to assist those on the ground. The prompt arrival of medical teams helped stabilize most of the injured on site, though the incident exposed gaps in lightning protection at some regional stadiums. Thai football bodies have previously distributed safety guidelines that call for immediate evacuation when thunder is heard.
Yala FC issued a statement expressing condolences to Awae’s family and teammates while confirming the player’s recent signing with the club. The tragedy has renewed discussions among sports administrators about enhancing protocols for weather-related hazards in vulnerable areas. Police indicated that a full report on the event would be compiled for provincial sports authorities in the coming days.
