By A viral video has captured the horrifying moment when 35-year-old Septain Raharja was struck by lightning during a friendly match at the Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung, West Java. Raharja, from Subang, collapsed on the field and was rushed to a local hospital but tragically passed away soon after. The incident occurred during a match between 2 FLO FC Bandung and FBI Subang. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the cloud from which the lightning originated was only 300m above the stadium when it struck Raharja. This is not the first such incident in Indonesia, as a similar occurrence took place in 2023 during the Soeratin U-13 Cup in Bojonegoro, East Java. Raharja’s death has sent shockwaves through the sports world, prompting moments of silence in his memory from Indonesian teams. Tragically, incidents of footballers collapsing on the field, such as the case of Ivory Coast’s Moustapha Sylla in March 2023, are reminders of the dangers of the sport.
This is such a tragic incident. My condolences go out to Septain Raharja’s family, friends, and teammates. It’s a reminder of how unpredictable and dangerous nature can be, especially during outdoor sports events.
