Soccer Teams Struck and Killed by Lightning in Freak Accident

In 1998, Kinshasa daily newspaper L'Avenir, a Congolese based newspaper in Africa that believes in witchcraft and charms, released an article saying that lightning struck and killed (11) soccer players, who were on the same team during a football match that was tied 1-1. Most locals believe that someone cursed the team. The other soccer team was not harmed by the lightning. In a similar freak accident, several members of two other soccer teams, half the players from both teams - the Jomo Cosmos and the Moroka Swallows - dropped to the turf, after getting struck by lightning in front of 2,000 fans. The referee at the Premier Soccer League match in Johannesburg seemed badly shocked and blew his whistle incessantly. Several players writhed on the grass holding their ears and their eyes. Spectators and coaching staff ran onto the football field to help. Scientist and researchers say lightning bolts can generate currents of more than 100,000 amps, which can produce one metre-wide magnetic fields. These could be powerful enough to stop the human heart, even though the jolt may only last one millisecond. Traditional advice for people caught in a thunderstorm is to avoid sheltering under trees, as they act as lightning conductors, and to make sure you are not the tallest object on the ground.

Soccer Coach Struck Killed by Lightning; Was Tallest Person on Field

On September 9, 2010, a soccer coach was struck by lightning died a month later. Franco Olascoaga, 21, was struck during soccer practice at Crippen Elementary in Porter, Texas. Emergency crews performed CPR on him and took him to Memorial Hospital, where was being treated until he died on Thursday. A 9-year-old girl was also hurt during the strike. She has recovered from her injuries.