Tragically, three young male students from a private secondary school located in Okpuno, within the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, lost their lives in a devastating incident while engaging in a game of football on the school’s playing field.
This unfortunate incident took place on a rainy Saturday, marked by strong winds and thunderstorms. According to an eyewitness account, the students were practicing for an upcoming football competition on the school’s pitch when they were struck by lightning.
It has been reported that approximately nine students were involved in this harrowing event. Fortunately, six of them were successfully revived later on at the school’s medical facility, where they were initially taken for urgent care.
The source recounted, “The boys were engaged in football practice under the guidance of their coach in preparation for an upcoming football tournament. The coach had concluded the practice session before the rains commenced, but some of the students chose to remain on the field, continuing their football match.”
The sudden onset of lightning, accompanied by thunderstorms, swiftly enveloped the area, leading to the students being struck during the process.
Additional witnesses revealed that a teacher, upon hearing the students’ screams and seeing them in a state of distress, rushed to the field and found at least nine students experiencing tremors and seizures on the turf.
Subsequently, an alarm was raised, prompting people to gather and offer assistance. The affected boys were promptly transported to the school clinic before being further transferred to a hospital in Awka.
Out of the nine boys affected, six were successfully revived and are presently undergoing treatment, while tragically, three did not survive the incident. Their parents have been notified.
One of the community residents, Hope Egwu, informed journalists that news of the tragic accident had circulated within the community on Sunday before it was publicly disclosed, leaving everyone in a state of shock.
The Anambra State police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that the incident had not been reported to the police at the time.