Monday, Sep 25 2023
All Cities
Choose Your City
'Lake Baikal: the very name fills Russian hearts with awe'
Mike Carter, The Observer

Medical student dies after lightning struck metal goalposts during football game

By The Siberian Times reporter
23 September 2016

Three more players rushed to hospital after suffering injuries in thunderstorm tragedy.

'There was a thunderstorm and lightning. And everyone near the goalposts fell to the ground.' Picture: Vkontakte

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. 

Killed by lightning


Tragedy site

'The lightning struck as players were crowded in the penalty area.' Picture: Vkontakte, Vesti.Altai

'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.' 

Alexey


Alexey with his girlfriend

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. Pictures: Vkontakte

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. 

Comments (1)

Very sad story this for someone so young. May he rest in peace & condolences to his family & friends.

A tip that is a proven fact, "if one can hear thunder no matter how far away it is; one can be struck by lightening."
Jaker, Dundalk
26/09/2016 10:34
0
0
1

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR102.25USD96.04GBP118.02Other...