Lightning strike at Chachoengsao golf course kills junior player and injures caddy
A 15 year old golfer died after being struck by lightning during a junior tournament in Chachoengsao, with her family alleging that play continued after earlier lightning strikes and that no ambulance was available at the course.
The incident occurred at around 4am on Sunday, November 1, at a golf course in Koh Ka Subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao District, Chachoengsao Province. The golfer, 15 year old Aeyavarin “Aeya” Pradubyart, was playing at the 11th hole when lightning struck. A 31 year old caddy standing nearby was also injured.
Aeya was reportedly in critical condition, and several news agencies reported that she had no vital signs when rescue workers arrived. Rescuers revived her before taking her to hospital for further treatment.
Her mother, Natcha Pradubyart, later announced her daughter’s death in a Facebook post. She said the Aeya’s heart had stopped for almost an hour after the strike and that doctors had restarted it ten times.
The mother said her daughter survived overnight so her father could return from Myanmar to say goodbye. She also described the events leading up to the incident, alleging that lightning had first struck near pine trees beside the hole at about 3pm.
According to the mother, further lightning strikes followed and rain began to fall, but no referee instructed the players to stop. The children continued playing until another loud strike came from the right, after which a referee halted the tournament and sent golf carts to collect the players.
The mother said she saw other children leaving the course but could not find her daughter. She asked staff about her whereabouts and later learned that she had been struck by lightning.
Aeya was unconscious on the course before being moved to a resting area for first aid. Her mother said Aeya’s face and body had turned red and that she had suffered a seizure.
Aeya’s grandmother, Aporn Pradubyart, said the girl had already played two rounds, beginning at 11am, before the tournament was stopped. She said lightning had struck twice before play was called off.
The grandmother said she did not know whether the delay in stopping the tournament was because organisers wanted the event to finish on schedule. She also alleged that no ambulance was stationed at the course, leaving the family waiting for a long time before the girl could be taken away.
The family has called on the golf course and tournament organisers to improve safety measures to prevent another young athlete from dying in similar circumstances.
ThaiRath reported that no representatives of the golf course had commented on the incident. A journalist who visited the venue was turned away by a security guard, who said the course management did not allow media representatives to enter.
The injured caddy remains in hospital under close observation.
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