Joao Contreras is comfortable on a soccer field, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time Tuesday.
Contreras, a left back for Peruvian soccer club Sport Aguila, was struck by lighting moments before the second half of his team’s Copa Peru (Peruvian Cup) semifinal against visiting Union Fuerza Mineira kicked off, according to the BBC. Contreras suffered burns to his legs. The lightning strike also injured one of the referee’s assistants and another man.
The game was played amid heavy rains in the city of Huancayo. Video captured the aftermath of the lightning strike.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS8OWvWMDEY&w=640&h=360]
Contreras, 21, is recovering in the hospital. Union Fuerza Mineira said the others escaped serious injury.
“The Eagle player, Joao Contreras, assistant Abraham Loayza and the affected fan are safe thanks to God,” the club said on Twitter.
[tweet https://twitter.com/CDUFuerzaMinera/status/542451330854318080 align=’center’%5D
The game was tied 1-1 when lightning struck. The referee abandoned the contest. The teams will play the second half at a later date.
