Terrifying moment footballer is blasted by lightning bolt that hit his necklace
Terrifying moment footballer, 16, is blasted by lightning bolt that hit his necklace as he kicked the ball into the net – as he now fights for life in Russia
- A metal chain around the neck of Ivan Zaborsky conducted the lightning
- The teenage goalkeeper had been training separately from the rest of his team
- Zaborsky was put in a medically induced coma and has a scar around his neck
By Will Stewart For Mail Online
Published: 06:50 EDT, 6 July 2020 | Updated: 07:18 EDT, 6 July 2020
A 16-year-old Russian footballer has been put into a coma and left with a scar around his neck after he was struck by lightning during training.
Ivan Zaborsky is fighting for his life after the terrifying incident in Orekhovo-Zuevo, near Moscow.
The teenage goalkeeper, who was training separately from his teammates, was wearing a metal chain around his neck which was struck by the lightning.
It is claimed the sky was clear when the lightning struck at the FC Znamya Truda weekend practice session.
Ivan Zaborsky, 16, was blasted by lightning in Orekhovo-Zuevo, near Moscow, as he ran to kick a football during solo practise
Footage of the incident shows Ivan lying on the floor after his metal chain was hit by the lightning. Circled red: The ball he kicked continues to head towards goal
Amazingly, the video appears to show him kick the ball from the edge of the penalty area even after he is struck.
He collapses to the ground and his coaches and teammates rush towards him.
His trainer Anton Basov performed a heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The unconscious goalie was rushed to a local hospital and then transferred by helicopter to a clinic in Moscow.
His girlfriend Yelena told Podyem media: ‘He is in stable condition.
The teenager is a goalkeeper who was training separately from his teammates when the thunderbolt hit a metal chain round his neck. His girlfriend Yelena (right) told Podyem media: ‘He is in stable condition’
‘He regained consciousness but due to a strong painful shock he had to be put back into a coma.’
‘His parents are at his bedside. He has a scar around his neck where the lightning hit his chain, and that his lung was damaged.
‘He needs time to stabilise.’
Zaborsky’s sister Karina Zaborovskaya said: ‘He woke several times, but doctors were scared to take a risk, and he was put back to coma.’
Ivan’s trainer Anton Basov performed a heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
She said: ‘Doctors say that he was born under a lucky star.
‘I still can’t comprehend it all.
‘I cannot understand how it could happen.
‘There were no clouds above the stadium before and during the training session, nothing signalled trouble.’
She praised the coaching staff who ‘saved his life’ with their prompt action.
