Football fan dies after being crushed by falling floodlight at local stadium

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A football fan has died in Spain after being crushed by a floodlight that had fallen onto the 3,000 capacity stadium.

The match between SD Lenense and Lealtad de Villaviciosa in the fifth-tier of Spanish football had to be suspended in the 80th minute on Sunday after a floodlight collapsed.

One supporter tragically suffered fatal injuries as a result, despite attempts to revive them, whilst another has been hospitalised with a head injury, The Sun report.

Two players as well as a doctor and nurse present at the match rushed to help following the incident, but were unable to save 60-year-old fan Jose Manuel Fernandez Suarez.

Eye witnesses have said that the 100ft tall floodlight at the Estadio El Soton "completely bent" before falling onto the stadium.

Reports in Spain have also stated that strong winds at the stadium caused an advertising board to be blown into the floodlight.

This caused the damage that subsequently led to it falling and killing Fernandez Suarez.

SD Lenense have since confirmed that a full investigation will be held into the incident and a minute's silence will be held at the next round of matches in the league.

The club, who are currently ninth in the Tercera Division, also paid tribute to Fernandez Suarez on social media, tweeting: "Everything else does not matter. Only them."


Lenense later added: "The sorrow that overwhelms us for the misfortune that has happened in our stadium is so great that we can do nothing but cry and mourn the personal damage caused by the accidental fall in a chain of a monopole and a lighting tower.

"Finally, we want to thank all those people and institutions that have showered us with messages of solidarity with Jose Manuel's family, which is what really matters, and with our club."

Lealtad also paid their respects as they wrote: "Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the person who died in today's match against Lenense C.F."

The visitors had led 1-0 when the floodlight collapsed and the match did not resume following the incident.

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  • Spain

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