The family has received the body of 15-year-old golfer Nong Aeya, who died after being struck by lightning, and returned it for religious rites. Her mother recounted the heartbreaking moment, saying lightning had struck twice before, yet she questioned why the competition was not stopped.
The lightning struck in the middle of a golf course in Chachoengsao Province at around 16:00 on 1 Nov during a youth golf competition. Two people were seriously injured: Ms. Aeyavarin Pradubyart, known as Nong Aeya, aged 15, and the caddy, Ms. Saitharn Boonkerd, aged 31. Both suffered cardiac arrest from the lightning strike. CPR was performed urgently, and both were rushed to Bang Nam Priao Hospital. Later that night, after Nong Aeya underwent a CT scan, she was referred to Phutthasothon Hospital.
Before morning on 2 Nov, Mrs. Natcha Pradubyart, 49, Nong Aeya's mother, posted on her personal Facebook: “No parent willingly lets their child go, but if it spares my beloved child pain, I will let go. You were the strongest, my dear Aeya. Your heart stopped after being struck by lightning. You fought back 10 times, enduring the night to wait for your father to return for the final goodbye. Rest peacefully, my dear Aeyavarin Aeya Pradubyart. Shattered beyond repair... Sorry I can’t answer calls or respond yet, not ready at all. Bringing Aeya home today.”Read the news: Sad news – “Aeya Aeyavarin Pradubyart,” 15-year-old golfer, dies from lightning strike.)
This afternoon (2 Nov), at the forensic unit, Sukati room, Phutthasothon Hospital, Mrs. Natcha Pradubyart and family arrived to collect Nong Aeya’s body to perform Islamic funeral rites at Darul Ibadah Mosque (Central Pattaya), Village No. 9, Sukhumvit Road, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. The atmosphere was filled with sorrow. Nong Aeya’s grandparents packed her clothes and golf bag into a vehicle to take home to Chonburi.
Mrs. Natcha, Nong Aeya’s mother, revealed that on the afternoon of the incident, her daughter was competing and walking through the holes. Around 15:00, while playing near the competition hole, lightning struck on the left side near pine trees, followed by several more strikes. Although rain started and the weather worsened, no officials stopped the competition. The children continued playing until a loud lightning strike sounded on the right side, rain began pouring heavily, and officials then instructed to stop and arranged transport for players to return to the rest area.
At that time, she saw about two of her daughter's group returning but did not see her daughter and became concerned. Upon asking where her daughter was, she was told Nong Aeya was lying down. She initially thought her daughter was resting at the athletes’ shelter. Soon after, someone reported a child had been struck by lightning. She rushed to inquire and was told it was Nong Aeya, causing her shock and alarm. She asked officials for help to find her daughter. Later, she learned Nong Aeya had been taken to the athlete rest area where she was receiving first aid. Nong Aeya was severely affected, with redness on her face and body, twitching, and then lost consciousness again.
She was then transported to the hospital, but doctors assessed her condition as critical and beyond help. The mother waited for Nong Aeya’s father to arrive. When he came in the morning, he was able to be with her for a final goodbye.
Mrs. Aparn Pradubyart, 67, Nong Aeya’s grandmother, said that at the time of the incident, Nong Aeya was with about 3-4 friends and a caddy. Her mother was at the clubhouse. Nong Aeya had already competed in two rounds since 11 a.m. and during the afternoon when the lightning struck, it had already struck twice, but officials did not stop the competition. It’s unclear whether this was to expedite finishing the event. The third lightning strike hit while she was playing at hole 11, striking from the right side of her hair down her arm and leg, burning her and tearing her hat. It took a long time to get her to hospital as there was no ambulance on the golf course.
Nong Aeya was a youth golfer who had won several competition awards and was recognized as a provincial-level golfer. She had been considered a reserve golfer for Chonburi Province. Her condition worsened since last night, kept alive by stimulants to await her father’s return from working in Myanmar to say goodbye at the hospital before she passed away this morning.
Meanwhile, the caddy, Ms. Saitharn Boonkerd, 31, from Don Koka Subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao District, Chachoengsao Province, remains hospitalized under close medical supervision at Bang Nam Priao Hospital. Attempts by reporters to enter the golf course to inquire about the incident were denied by security personnel outside, who said management did not permit journalists to enter.