A teenage golfer was killed, and her caddy was injured after they were struck by lightning during a tournament in Thailand.
Aeyavarin Pradubyart, 15, was with female caddy Saitharn Boonkerd, 31, and four other players while heavy rain lashed the Lotus Valley Golf Resort in Chachoengsao, on Sunday afternoon.
The young golfer was putting on the 11th hole when several lightning bolts ripped through the sky, knocking the promising golfer and the caddy unconscious, according to local media.
Officials suspended the tournament when the downpour began mid-tournament.
Aeyavarin and Saitharn failed to return and were later found unconscious on the golf course.
The teen reportedly suffered serious burns on the right side of her body, from her head to her arms and legs.
Both received CPR at the scene before being rushed to Bang Nam Priao Hospital in critical condition.
Aeyavarin was then transferred to Phutthasothon Hospital for further treatment, where her condition rapidly deteriorated, and she was declared dead on Monday.
Teen golfer Aeyavarin Pradubyart, 15, has died after being struck by lightning during a tournament in Thailand
The teenager was found unconscious on the golf course after failing to return
Aeyavarin's mother, Natcha Pradubyart, 49, announced her daughter's death in a heartbreaking online post.
The grieving parent wrote: 'No parents would ever easily let their child go.
'But if it brings pain to our beloved child, we will choose to let go, so you may rest in peace.
'You were the strongest, my beloved child Aeya.
'Your heart stopped for nearly an hour after being struck by lightning, yet you fought back ten times, enduring through the night to wait for your father to fly back and say a final goodbye.
'Rest peacefully, my beloved child.'
Mrs Pradubyart said her daughter had been moving between holes on the golf course when the weather began worsening at around 3pm.
She said lightning first struck near a line of pine trees along the green, followed by several more strikes.
She claimed no officials had stopped the competition and the youngsters continued playing before a deafening thunderclap and heavy rain finally triggered a suspension.
She added: 'I saw two of Aeya's playing partners return, but my daughter was nowhere to be seen. I asked where she was, and someone told me, "Aeya is lying down." I thought she was just resting at the clubhouse.
'Shortly afterwards, someone told me a child had been struck by lightning. I rushed over to find out what had happened and was devastated to learn it was her. I was completely shocked and panicking. I begged the officials to help me find her.
'I later found out she had been taken to the clubhouse and was receiving first aid. Her face and body were bright red, and she was having convulsions. She lost consciousness again.
'She was rushed to hospital, but the doctors said her condition was too critical and there was nothing more they could do.
'I waited for her father to arrive, and he finally reached the hospital the following morning, so he could be with her one last time.'
The teenager's grandmother, Aphorn Pradubyart, 67, claimed there was a delay in taking her to hospital because no ambulance was available at the golf course.
The tournament organisers said they were 'deeply saddened' by the incident and extended condolences to Aeyavarin's family.
Aeyavarin was a young golfer who had won awards in multiple competitions and competed at provincial level
In a statement, they said: 'Currently, the organising committee is working with the golf course to expedite the investigation and gather all the facts thoroughly in order to obtain the most accurate and clear information.'
The third round of the competition, scheduled for November 7, has been postponed.
The injured caddy, Saitharn, remains under close medical supervision.
Aeyavarin was a young golfer who had won awards in multiple competitions and competed at provincial level.
She was a registered member of the Thai Student Golf Union and was considered a rising star in junior golf.
She won the girls' Class B event in the first leg of the Junior Asian Tour 2026 in March after a playoff and was scheduled to compete in more tournaments this year.
Her achievements led to her selection as a reserve golfer for Chonburi.
Source link
