Massive lightning storm makes landfall during footy match

Spectators and supporters came within metres of death as a monster lightning storm made downfall at a footy match. Watch the videos and see the pictures.

Footy fans were forced to run for their lives as a ferocious lightning strike struck mere metres away from the stands and just seconds after players had left the field for half time.

The Northern Territory Football League’s Tiwi Bombers were hosting its first and only home game of the 2024-25 season against the Palmerston Magpies at the weekend when near-disaster struck.

What started as a typical scorching hot day of Top End footy quickly devolved into something out of a movie as ‘Hector the Convector’ pummeled Bathurst Island.

Regarded as the ‘world’s most consistent storm’ Hector makes landfall every wet season around 3pm without fail.

However this episode of Hector produced unimaginable scenes as flash flooding and lightning bolts struck within metres of the crowd.

While the women’s match went off without a hitch the heavens began to open in the first quarter of the men’s match before bucketing down in the second.

The moment one of the lightning bolts hit at half time of the men’s game. Picture: Troy Ammerlaan (NTFL Umpire).

The match featured former AFL players including Western Bulldogs’ Sam Darley, St Kilda and Richmond’s Matthew Parker, in his NTFL debut, while former Richmond premiership hero Marlion Pickett watched on from the crowd as he was suspended.

While thunder was heard in the distance it wasn’t until lightning hit within 10km of the oval that the match was halted due to safety policies.

Minutes later lighting struck a tree 10m from a packed metal bleacher leaving dozens of locals fleeing for cover and safety.

A further half dozen more strikes hit within a very close radius of the oval leaving locals saying it was one of the most intense and scary storms in recent memory.

Flash flooding enveloped the outfield and spectator area for the next hour and a half until the match was ultimately abandoned.

Players, umpires and locals didn’t let the news dampen spirits as they all stormed the field, playing their own mini games of footy once the lightning had passed.

PICTURES

A camp dog made its way onto the field during the women’s match at Bathurst Island, NT, before the storm hit. Picture: Darcy Jennings

A Tiwi local posing for a picture before the lightning storm hit the ground. Picture: Darcy Jennings

Palmerston Magpies and Tiwi Bombers players contesting the restart during Round 9 of the NTFL. Picture: Jack Riddiford / AFLNT Media

A group of tourists huddled together during the storm. Picture: Darcy Jennings

A mother an her baby stuck it out in the rain. Picture: Darcy Jennings

A group of young Tiwi girls playing in the puddles during the second quarter of the men’s game. Picture: Darcy Jennings

Tiwi boys playing their own game after the lightning had left. Picture: Darcy Jennings

Tiwi Bombers player and teacher on the island Tanna Blackney-Noter playing a game with school kids in the wet. Picture: Jack Riddiford / AFLNT Media

Palmerston Magpies MPL players took off their boots and went out onto the oval to play with the locals. Picture: Darcy Jennings