52-Year-Old M’sian Struck By Lightning During Football Match on Rainy Saturday Afternoon

By Edleena Sephia  •  in News
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Photos used for illustration purpose only. Source: Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia

A 52 year-old defence football player was struck by lightning during a friendly football match between veterans of the teams UK Lion and Harimau Division at the National Sport Complex’s (MSN) field in Setiawangsa, Section 5, Wangsa Maju on a late rainy Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to Harian Metro, the referee of the match Asmadi Shawal Ahmad told the publication that paramedics from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) confirmed that Lim Yu Kim had died immediately at the scene at 5.22 pm.

“The lightning had struck the victim’s chest which had caused immediate death,” he said.

Ten members of the Civil Defence Force rushed to the scene as soon as they were informed of the tragedy at 5.48 pm.

Captain (PA) Mazran Mohamed, Civil Defence Officer revealed that the victim was positioned in his defence position and the lightning had struck exactly on the penalty section near the goal fence where he was standing.

Asmadi also added that 5 other players and himself were examined by paramedics as they had suffered mild concussions.

“If the lightning had struck straight onto the field, I don’t think I would be here,” he told Harian Metro in a call.

According to Asmadi, police escorted the body to HKL for further investigations while he and the 5 other players received treatments as outpatients.

“All seven of us are affected by the lightning including Lim. This is also the first time I’ve experienced such a thing in my 10 years of being a referee,” he added.

The affected were advised to return to the hospital for a follow-up should they experience side effects such as difficulty of breathing and headaches among other symptoms.