Teen Golfer Dies After Lightning Strike at Youth Tournament
A 15-year-old golfer has died after being struck by lightning during a youth golf tournament in Thailand, and her family is calling on tournament organizers to strengthen their safety measures.
Aeyavarin “Aeya” Pradubyart was struck at around 4 p.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1, during a tournament in Chachoengsao, a province east of Bangkok, the Bangkok Post reported. She was found unconscious without vital signs, and rescue teams performed CPR until her heartbeat was restored.
Pradubyart was taken to Bang Nam Priao Hospital for further treatment, but she died on Monday, Nov. 2. A 31-year-old caddie was also injured in the strike, though her injuries were reportedly less severe.
A Mother’s Tribute
In a post on Facebook, Pradubyart’s mother, Natcha Izy Samitintu, paid tribute to her daughter’s strength. “You were the strongest of all, my beloved Aeya,” she wrote.
Samitintu said her daughter’s heart stopped for nearly an hour after the strike, and that she endured multiple rounds of resuscitation. She held on through the night, her mother wrote, waiting for her father to fly home so she could say goodbye.
“Rest well, my darling,” Samitintu wrote.
Family Raises Concerns About the Tournament
According to Pradubyart’s family, the tournament continued despite earlier lightning strikes and worsening weather, The Straits Times reported.
Samitintu said officials only suspended play and arranged vehicles to pick up the golfers after a later strike and heavier rain. The family also alleged that the lack of an ambulance on the course delayed Pradubyart’s transfer to the hospital.
Tournament sponsor TaylorMade issued a statement expressing condolences to Pradubyart’s family, fellow athletes and the golfing community, according to a post shared by Golf Advisor.
A Rising Star in Junior Golf
The Bangkok Post described Pradubyart as a rising star in junior golf. She was a registered member of the Thai Student Golf Union, and in March 2026, she won the girls’ Class B event at the first leg of the Junior Asian Tour. She had planned to compete in more tournaments this year.
Her mother has since called for change. “May Aeya’s case be the first and the last of its kind involving a youth golfer,” Samitintu wrote. She urged golf courses and tournament organizers to put strong measures in place for both prevention and emergency response, so that no other family has to experience the same loss.
Why Golf Courses Can Be Dangerous During Storms
Golf courses are among the riskiest places to be during a thunderstorm. They’re wide, open spaces where golfers are often the tallest objects around, and holding metal clubs or standing near trees can add to the danger.
The National Weather Service’s lightning safety guidance is simple: When thunder roars, go indoors. No place outdoors is completely safe when a thunderstorm is nearby, and lightning can strike miles away from the storm itself.
Lightning Safety Tips for Golfers and Spectators
Watch the forecast: Check the weather before heading out, and keep an eye on the sky during play.
Seek shelter immediately: At the first sound of thunder, head to a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows closed.
Avoid open areas and isolated trees: Golf carts, small shelters and lone trees don’t offer protection.
Wait before returning: Stay sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Know how to help: A person struck by lightning doesn’t carry an electrical charge, so it’s safe to touch them. Call emergency services right away, and begin CPR if the person isn’t breathing.
As her family grieves, Pradubyart’s mother hopes her daughter’s story will lead to safer conditions for young athletes on golf courses everywhere.
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