COCONUT CREEK, Florida Oct 6 - A high school football player was killed and several people were injured by lightning after a game was stopped because of a thunderstorm.
Schaffner Noel, 15, was hit in the chest yesterday and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Coconut Creek police spokeswoman Judy Banks said.
Another junior varsity player and a cheerleader who had been standing next to Noel were injured. They were hospitalised in serious but stable condition, Banks said.
Ten other students and a police officer knocked down by the strike were treated at Monarch High School for cuts, bruises and abrasions, Banks said.
Witnesses said referees had stopped the football game because of thunder. The students were coming off the field when Noel was struck, Banks said.
Coaches, faculty and students had little warning of the thunderstorm, which moved in quickly, she said.
Noel’s brother Wagner, 16, who plays varsity football at the school, described a chaotic scene after the lightning struck.
``We were starting to walk in and we saw the junior varsities walking in too and then we saw this huge lightning. It seemed like it hit the field, so everybody started running.’’