Teenage Russian footballer in intensive care after being struck by LIGHTNING in training – reports

Ivan Zaborovsky, a goalkeeper for Znamya Truda in the third tier of Russian football, is understood to be receiving treatment after being struck by lightning during a training session, according to reports.

Details remain scant on the incident which is understood to have occurred on Saturday, with news of the potentially serious injuries suffered by the teenager filtering out via a Twitter account associated with the club.

"According to our information, there was an accident in training. Youth goalkeeper Ivan Zaborovsky was struck by lightning, he is now in intensive care. We hope he will avoid any further bad luck," the statement read, via translation.

"Everything went quickly, very professionally, an ambulance arrived in eight minutes. [Zaborovsky] most likely stopped breathing, they gave him first aid, the young lad is most likely alive thanks to that.

"Last night we sent him from Orekhovo-Zuyevo to the hospital in Lyubertsy. He had an ECG, his heart is fine, tomorrow the doctors will monitor him."

According to Igor Mayorov, the club's general director, the incident was not envisaged due to relatively calm weather conditions at the time. He also stated that the team regularly trains indoors if there is a risk of potentially inhospitable weather.

It is reminiscent of another such incident that occurred in Jamaica last year, where TWO players were struck by lightning during a game in Kingston. The two players were eventually released from hospital after suffering minor injuries.