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Football

11th Dec 2014

VIDEO: Footballer in serious condition in hospital after lightning strike during match

Joao Contreras' club had initally declared that he had died after incident

Kevin McGillicuddy

This is one of the scariest things we’ve ever seen on a football pitch

Joao Contreras is fighting for his life after this incredible ‘act of god’ in a Peruvian football game on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old was just waiting for the second half of the game between Sport Aguila and Fuerza Minera in the Copa Peru semi-final second leg to get underway when he was struck by lightening.

Immediatley the players realise the seriousness of the incident and the match is abandoned.

A linesman was also injured by the bolt, but he is not believed to be as seriously hurt as the footballer.

Bizarrely, the club had initially said the player had died, but he’s now being treated for serious burns in hospital.

The incident happens at the very beginning of this footage in the top left hand corner, as you see the player and linesman both collapse after the lightening strike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyZkauxO7vs

Frightening frightening stuff

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