BREAKING Four ladies footballers killed by lightning after sheltering below tree by pitch
Five people including four women footballers have been killed after taking shelter under a tree during a storm and being struck by lightning.
Another two female victims were rushed to hospital after suffering serious burns in the horror incident yesterday near the central Colombian town of Cajibio.
Tributes were being paid to the women today as details of the horror incident began to emerge. They have been named locally as Jeidy Morales, Daniela Mosquera, Luz Lame and Etelvina Mosquera.
The unnamed male victim is said to have died in hospital. One conflicting report said part of the group involved had taken shelter inside a shed by the football pitch when the tragedy occurred.
But local government spokesman Lesly Valencia said: “The information I have is that the women were participating in a football tournament when the emergency occurred. A lightning bolt struck a tree and that was what caused the death of the four women.”
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Tata Velasco, a friend of one of the four women killed, said: “What sad news. Rest in peace Daniela.” Claudia Doria wrote online: “What they did was very dangerous. Trees attract lightning bolts.”
Last November a footballer was killed and five others injured after being hit by lightning during a match in Peru.
Jose Hugo de la Cruz Meza, 39, filmed falling face first to the ground moments after the ref had ordered the game to be halted as the sound of rumbling thunder echoed round the stadium, died instantly.
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Goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, 40, also received a direct strike and was rushed to hospital in a taxi with serious burns to his body. The other casualties included two teenagers aged 16 and 19.
The tragedy happened during a regional tournament in Chilca, one of the 28 districts that form the central Peruvian province of Huancayo, between two local teams called Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.
Footage of the dramatic moment tragic defender Jose, pictured in online tributes, was killed showed the players appearing to walk slowly towards the changing rooms after the referee halted play when the storm intensified. He was declared dead in hospital.
