Lightning kills Guatemala footballers

The lightning knocked everybody off their feet

Ten people are still being treated in hospital for severe burns after lighting struck a football field in Guatemala on Saturday, killing two players and injuring more than 25.

The incident happened at a game at the municipal stadium in Chiquimulilla, 120km (75 miles) east of the capital, Guatemala City.

The lightning struck a metal guard rail surrounding the field, knocking everyone on the pitch off their feet.

The two players, Rosbin Yuman, 16, and Lester Marrioquin, 24, were killed instantly.

The teams, Deportivo Chiquimulilla and Pueblo Nuevo Vinas, in Guatemala's third division, were deep into the second half of the game when storm blew over their stadium.

A decision was made to continue the game, although most of the hundreds of fans who had packed the small stadium had left because of the fierce rain.

Those who remained in the stands did not feel the lightning when it struck and were not hurt, said a spokesman for Chiquimulilla's volunteer fire-fighters.