A promising 15-year-old golfer has died after being struck by lightning during a junior golf tournament. Her father rushed back from another country to reach her at the hospital, arriving in time to say his final goodbye.
Aeyavarin “Aeya” Pradubyart was competing in a tournament in Thailand’s Chachoengsao province on Sunday, November 1, when lightning struck near the course’s 11th hole.
A 31-year-old female caddie was also injured in the incident.
Rescuers found Aeya unconscious and without vital signs. They performed CPR and managed to restore her heartbeat before taking her to the hospital. She remained in critical condition and underwent repeated resuscitation efforts throughout the night.
Her father had been working in Myanmar when the accident happened. According to her family, he hurried back to Thailand and reached the hospital before she died on Monday, November 2.
Her mother, Natcha Pradubyat, later shared a heartbreaking tribute, saying the family had to let their daughter go peacefully rather than allow her to continue suffering.
Aeya was an accomplished young golfer who had won several awards. She had claimed the girls’ Class B title at the Junior Asian Tour in March and represented her province in competitions.
Following her death, her family raised concerns about the tournament’s safety arrangements. They questioned why play allegedly continued despite earlier lightning strikes and also raised concerns about the availability of emergency medical transport.
Her mother urged golf courses and tournament organizers to strengthen safety precautions and emergency-response procedures so another family would not have to experience the same loss.
A young athlete’s promising future has ended, leaving her family with an unimaginable goodbye.