The image is unrelated to the article. A golf course in Thailand. [123rf]
The image is unrelated to the article. A golf course in Thailand. [123rf]

A 15-year-old Thai golf prodigy died after being struck by lightning during a tournament.

The family said organizers failed to suspend play despite deteriorating weather conditions and had not arranged an ambulance at the venue.

According to the Bangkok Post on Tuesday, Eyawarin Pradubyat was struck by lightning during a junior golf tournament held Sunday in Thailand's Chachoengsao Province. Eyawarin was given CPR and rushed to a hospital but did not survive.

A 31-year-old caddie was also reported to have been injured in the strike.

Family members and others have criticized the organizers for pressing ahead with the tournament despite the dangerous weather.

Eyawarin's mother, Nacha, said on social media that lightning had struck near pine trees on the course multiple times before the accident.

The family said conditions worsened as rain began to fall, but officials did not halt play, forcing the young competitors to continue. They also said the absence of an ambulance on the course delayed the transfer to the hospital.

The family called on all golf courses and tournament organizers to implement comprehensive accident-prevention measures to stop such incidents from recurring.

Eyawarin had won the girls' Class B event at the first leg of the Junior Asian Tour 2026 in March.


jshan@heraldcorp.com