The Euro 2024 Round of 16 match between Denmark and Germany was interrupted due to lightning, prompting Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand to immediately call for his players to leave the pitch. Hjulmand, in fact, witnessed a player struck by lightning in 2009 while working as assistant coach at FC Nordsjælland, leading to cardiac arrest and subsequent amputation.
In 2009, Hjulmand was an assistant coach for Danish club FC Nordsjælland when a friendly match was hit by lightning. Jonathan Richter, a player for FC Nordsjælland, was struck by lightning, falling unconscious and suffering cardiac arrest. Reports indicate that he remained unconscious for 41 minutes. Though he was transported to the hospital, he did not regain consciousness immediately and remained in a coma for 10 days.
While Richter eventually regained consciousness, doctors ultimately decided to amputate part of his leg to prevent further complications. At the time, he was only 24 years old, ending his professional career prematurely and leaving him with a lifelong disability.
Following the lightning incident during the Denmark-Germany match, Hjulmand immediately directed his players to leave the field. “It was the right decision,” he said. “I believe many of the players know Richter, and I think it was necessary.”
Richter later revealed in an interview that upon regaining consciousness, his only thought was whether he would be able to continue playing football. However, the doctor’s decision ultimately left him living in “darkness.”
It’s worth noting that Morten Wieghorst was the head coach of FC Nordsjælland at the time of the incident, and currently serves as Hjulmand’s assistant for the Danish national team.
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