Medical student dies after lightning struck metal goalposts during football game

Alexey Simonov, 18, was killed from the lightning strike when a storm suddenly hit during a game between Rubtsovsky Medical College and the local branch of Altai State University.

His friend Nikita Esin, who was injured by lightning, said: 'I ran to Alexei. He was standing near the goalposts. I was the first who ran up to him. At that moment, he still had a pulse. 

'But the first thing that caught my eye was that his stubble was charred and his hair stood on end.' He died moments later. The lightning struck as players were crowded in the penalty area. 

Another player said: 'Four guys were on the ground. There was blood. We are future doctors and we realised immediately that Lesha (Alexey) had died. I called to the ambulance.

'I said: 'A man has been killed by lightning!'. They did not believe me and replied: 'Don't make jokes like that.' The ambulance has arrived only in 15 minutes. For some reason they did not drive close to the field, and parked at the entrance. We carried the injured to the ambulance by ourselves.' 

Another player Vitaly Burmitskih, also injured by the lightning, said: 'We played the first half, then there was a break. At the start of the second half the rain began. The game was not stopped. There was a thunderstorm and lightning. And everyone near the goalposts fell to the ground.'

Three students aged 15, 19 and 19, are in hospital in Altai region in a 'stable' condition. Three more were discharged.