Footballer dies after suspected lightning strike in Melaka
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Alor Gajah police received information from a hospital about a man who had been brought in unconscious after he was believed to have been struck by lightning.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PEXELS
- A footballer, R. Thanesh, died after being struck by lightning during a friendly match at Rakan Muda Lendu Complex on July 5.
- Two others, including the referee, were injured; one was hospitalised, the other in good condition without treatment.
- Police found no criminal elements; a post-mortem was scheduled to confirm the actual cause of death, case classified as sudden death.
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ALOR GAJAH – A footballer died after he was believed to have been struck by lightning, while a referee was injured, during a friendly match at the Rakan Muda Lendu Complex field in Melaka on the evening of July 5, Astro Awani reported.
In the incident, which occurred at about 5.40pm, the victim, R. Thanesh, 28, was pronounced dead while receiving treatment at the emergency unit of Alor Gajah Hospital, the Malay-language portal reported.
Alor Gajah police superintendent Ahmad Abu Bakar said the police received information from the hospital at 8.50pm about a man who had been taken in unconscious after he was believed to have been struck by lightning.
Initial investigations found that the victim was taking part in a friendly match between Rembau Indian Veteran FC and Tanjung Minyak FC that began at about 5.30pm.
“About 10 minutes after kick-off, there was a drizzle before a loud clap of thunder was heard. The victim’s friends then saw him and two other individuals collapse on the field,” Ahmad told Astro Awani.
“The victim was then taken to Alor Gajah Hospital in a public vehicle, while the match referee was sent to hospital by ambulance for treatment.”
Ahmad said another individual who was also affected in the incident was reported to be in good condition and did not seek treatment at the hospital.
He said an initial examination of the victim’s body found no criminal elements.
“However, there were burn marks from the toes up to the left thigh. The victim also had burns on the lower left abdomen, blackened marks on the back and bleeding from the right ear,” he added.
He said the body was taken to Melaka Hospital for a post-mortem that was scheduled to be conducted on the morning of July 6, to determine the actual cause of death.
“Police have opened an investigation paper and the case has been classified as sudden death,” he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
