Lightning killed a football player during a match in Brazil. Video

Brazilian football player Caio Henrique de Lima Gonçalves died at the age of 21 after being struck by lightning during a match, Globo Esporte reports. The incident occurred in Japira (Paraná) during the first round of the State Cup among amateur teams between the local União Jaiirense, for which Caio played, and Unidos from Santo António da Plataina.

A recording made by fans captures the moments after the lightning strike. The video shows some players being helped while one of them, possibly Caio Henrique, is carried off the field.

Leonardo Augusto Castaneira Alves, a teammate of Caio's, explained how other athletes tried to help the young man.

"There were a lot of people there at the time. We were desperate, we took cars to take them to the hospital. Caio was a friend. It was a very tragic event," he said.

According to the sports director of the Santo António da Plata city hall, there was no ambulance on duty at the stadium when it happened.

"We have an agreement that the city hospital staff is on standby in case something happens at these events," he said.

After the lightning struck the field, the injured players were taken by ambulance to the city hospital. Five were from Japira. Four suffered burns. Caio died a few hours after being treated.

In a statement, the mayor's office of Japira expressed regret over the death of the athlete and announced official mourning.

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