A 21year-old Peruvian soccer player, Joao Contreras Fuentes was on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, struck by lightning while playing in a semi-final match for Sport Aguila in the Copa Peru tie against Fuerza Minera at the Mariscal Castilla stadium in Lima.
Reports went viral that Fuentes died after the attack although recent reports countered the speculations and disclosed that he was recuperating in a hospital.
From the video footage posted on Youtube, his fellow players were seen trying their possible best to rescue the victim who had collapsed as a result of the attack.
Eventually, his colleagues successfully took him off the pitch and took him to the hospital thereafter in an ambulance.
The UK Daily Mirror reports that the lightening also injured an assistant referee, Abraham Loayza Morales.
Sport Aguila captain Amilcar Lobon said, “Thank God he’s okay, he’s getting better, and now we’re just thinking about his recovery.
“It’s difficult to imagine this situation that just doesn’t happen in Huancayo.
“As I reiterate, the important thing is that our friend Joao is out of danger.”
In reaction to the speculations that the victim died, the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) issued a statement on its website.
It said, “Unfortunately the force of nature has caused a serious impact to the health of one of the Sport Aguila players and one of the refereeing team.
“We regret that some media have released definitive news about the death of the Sport Aguila player, without having checked the news and in clear violation of the fundamental rules of prudence, since the player and the referee have family and therefore deserve respect.”
Watch the video below:
