There were heavy rains in Santiphap Stadium, southern Thailand on the day of August 4, 2026. The match being played between teams became a tragedy as a lighting strike occurred. There were players who fainted after lighting struck in the field of play. One of the injured twenty-four years old Thai footballer called Safwan Awae (or Sofwan Awae) had sustained serious injuries that resulted in his death in Sungai Kolok hospital. About twelve other people were injured as well.
The strike occurred around 5:00–5:30 p.m. local time during the Golok FA Cup match between SAMCOLTS and Abu x Nong Sirin at Santiphap Stadium (also called Santipap or Babu Field) in Su-ngai Kolok, Narathiwat province, near the Malaysian border. Play continued into injury time amid the storm. Video circulating online shows a bright flash and impact on the pitch, after which several players fell. Teammates attempted to help Awae on the field before emergency crews took him to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. The match was immediately called off.
A right-footed winger and forward, Awae had signed with Thai League 3 Southern Region club Yala FC on or around July 29, 2026 less than a week before the tragedy. He previously played for Pattani FC, scoring seven goals in 18 appearances and helping the club earn promotion to Thai League 2. In the cup match he appeared for SAMCOLTS. Yala FC posted a tribute:
“Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return. Condolences to the family of Safwan Awae, the new player of FC Yala.”
The Football Association of Thailand stated it “shares the grief with the family, friends and the club during this difficult time.”
Footage of the strike players competing in rain, the sudden flash, and the immediate collapse spread rapidly on platforms including X. The combination of raw video and the death of a young professional in a formal tournament match drew global attention, amplified by summaries from outlets like Dexerto. Family members asked the public to stop sharing graphic clips out of respect.
Sungai Golok police chief Colonel Thun Sirikhunt confirmed the details:
“Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident.”
Police reported one fatality and roughly 12 others injured, mostly with burns, including 22-year-old Malaysian footballer Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli. The injured received treatment at Sungai Kolok Hospital; the Malaysian player later returned home for care.
Southern Thailand’s monsoon season brings frequent thunderstorms, and open sports fields carry elevated risk when play continues in heavy rain. This incident has renewed discussion about weather protocols for outdoor events many associations recommend suspending matches at the first sign of lightning and waiting a set period after the last strike. Similar rare but serious lightning fatalities have occurred in other outdoor sports worldwide.
One unexpected moment during an ordinary regional match became an internationally reported tragedy. The emotional weight of a young player’s death sits alongside verified reporting from police, hospitals, and football authorities. Readers are best served by relying on those credible sources rather than unverified viral clips alone.
