Sports Writers mourn 3 football students killed by lightning

Lightning had struck 9 of the students, leaving 3 dead


The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter, has condoled with the management of Tansi International College, Awka, over the death of three students in a lightning strike.

Recall that Lightning had struck 9 male students of Tansi International College in Okponu, a community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, leaving 3 dead.

The incident happened on Sunday while the students were having a football training session on the school field, according to reports.

A witness said that the lightning struck nine male students who were playing football barefooted with their peers on the school’s pitch.

“The students were practising on the football pitch with their coach preparatory to a tournament. The coach had ended the training session before the rain started but some of the students stayed behind to continue playing football,” the witness, who asked not to be named, was quoted as saying

“Lightning, accompanied by claps of thunderstorms, suddenly enveloped the area and the boys were struck in the process.”

‘How the students died’
The witness narrated that a teacher heard the students screaming and running and upon getting to the field, he saw at least nine students trembling and jerking on the turf.

He said the teacher then raised an alarm, prompting community residents to gather to help the students.

The victims were immediately rushed to the school clinic, from where they were taken to a hospital in Awka.

The witness said six of the students were resuscitated, but the three others died.

Reacting to the development SWAN in a condolence message contained in a statement signed by Chimezie Anaso and Uche Ndeke, its chairman and Secretary, respectively, in Awka on Tuesday, said:

“As a body of sports journalists in Anambra, we are deeply saddened because we recognise the positive role Tansi College has played in the development of sports by making its pitch available for sporting activities.

“We appreciate that this particular pitch was one of the venues for the Anambra Independent Football League, the biggest independently-run football league as well as other competitions,” it said.

SWAN equally commiserated with the parents and families of the deceased over their losses.

The association described the tragedy as a huge and irreparable loss to the parents of the deceased, Tansi College, the society and the sports community in particular and prayed that God consoles the bereaved.