A Sunday that seemed destined for competition and sports in Chilca, Huancayo, ended in tragedy when a lightning strike hit the playing field, claiming the life of 34-year-old footballer José Hugo De la Cruz Meza and leaving four others injured.
The scene has made a profound impact on the local community and on the thousands of Peruvians who have viewed the shocking video of the incident, which has been shared on social media, often in slow motion, to showcase the exact moment of the fatal event.
The images have elicited distress and sorrow, highlighting how vulnerable humanity can be in the face of natural phenomena.
The tragedy occurred at the ‘Coto Coto’ stadium while local teams C.D. Juventud Bellavista and U.D. Familia Chocca were battling it out as part of a regional tournament. The thunderstorm began to intensify at 4:00 p.m., prompting a pause in the game as players and attendees sought shelter.
However, in that moment, the unexpected happened: a lightning bolt struck directly on the field, hitting defender De la Cruz Meza and goalkeeper Juan Chocca Llacta, while other players were also affected by the shockwave.
The scene was captured by spectators, who recorded on their cell phones how the powerful lightning generated an electric discharge that brought down several players. This mass-shared video shows in slow motion the intensity of the impact, reflecting the exact moment the lightning hit the field and created a cloud of smoke and dust around the victims.
The image, which has deeply shocked those who have seen it, has sparked a wave of disbelief and grief, along with questions about safety conditions for sporting events in adverse weather conditions.
The injured were quickly transported to Carrión Hospital in Huancayo, but efforts were in vain for José Hugo De la Cruz Meza, who arrived at the medical center without vital signs. Juan Chocca Llacta, the affected goalkeeper, remains in grave condition due to the severe burns he suffered from the impact.
Additionally, three other players are injured: 19-year-old Erick Estiven Ccente Cuyllor, 16-year-old minor Josep Gustavo P. Ch., and 24-year-old Cristian César Pituy Cahuana. These players also received immediate medical attention, and hospital authorities have indicated that their condition is stable, although they continue to be monitored.
The images of this tragic accident have not only shocked direct witnesses, but as they have gone viral, they have elicited an emotional response from the entire sports community and the general public. In the comments on social media, thousands of users have expressed their solidarity with the families of those affected and their sorrow over the loss of a sportsman in the midst of competition.