Teen Golfer Killed by Lightning as Tournament Ignores Multiple Strikes

The mother of "Nong Eya" says lightning struck the golf course repeatedly, yet officials did not stop the tournament until a final massive strike — by which time her daughter had already been hit. On November 1, during a youth golf competition on the Nong Khrok-Bang Nam Priao Road in Don Kho Ka, Bang Nam Priao District, Chachoengsao Province, lightning struck multiple times, seriously injuring two people. Later that evening, 15-year-old Ms. Eyawarin Pradap-yat, known as "Nong Eya," succumbed to her injuries at Buddhachinaraj Hospital in Chachoengsao. In the afternoon, her mother, Ms. Natcha Pradap-yat, and family collected her body from the hospital morgue to hold religious rites at the Darul Ibadah Mosque in Chonburi, in an atmosphere of profound grief. Ms. Natcha recounted that around 3:00 PM, as her daughter walked the course, lightning crashed down on the left near a pine grove, followed by several more strikes. Despite rain and worsening weather, officials did not suspend play, so the children continued. Only when another thunderous strike hit on the right, accompanied by heavy rain, did officials finally walk out and order a halt, arranging transport back to the rest area. Two of Eya's playing partners had already returned but could not find her. They were told, "Nong Eya is sleeping." Assuming she was resting at the athlete dormitory, they were soon informed a child had been struck by lightning — it was Eya. Her mother, shocked, begged officials to take her to her daughter. She found people attempting CPR; Eya's face and body were red, she was convulsing, then lost consciousness again. She was rushed to hospital, but doctors assessed her condition as critical and unsurvivable. The mother waited for the father to return from Myanmar; he arrived in the morning and stayed with her until she passed away. Ms. Aphon Pradap-yat, 67, Eya's grandmother, disclosed that Eya had played two rounds since 11:00 AM. In the afternoon, lightning struck twice more, yet officials did not stop the competition — perhaps rushing to finish — until a third strike hit while Eya was on the 11th hole. The bolt traveled from the right side of her head down through her body, arms, and legs, causing severe burns, melting her hat. There was a long delay because no ambulance was on site to evacuate her.