Erik Jongbloed (died 23 September 1984) was a Dutch amateur footballer who played as a goalkeeper. The son of international goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed, he was struck by lightning during a football match on 23 September 1984, dying shortly after.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1962 or 1963 | ||
| Date of death | (aged 21) | ||
| Place of death | Amsterdam-Noord, Netherlands | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1984 | DWS | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Death and funeral
edit
On 23 September 1984, DWS were set to face Rood-Wit Zaanstad in Amsterdam. The weather in the city was getting worse as the match went on, with torrential rain and dark clouds over the stadium, and lightning being visible. Additionally, there were discussions about whether the match should continue or not, due to the risk of lightning.[1]
During the match, Jongbloed's teammate Rob Stenacker was supposed to take a goal kick,[2] but Jongbloed said he would do it. Shortly after Stenacker left the penalty area, Jongbloed was struck by lightning.[3][1] He was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital in Amsterdam-Noord.[4][5][6] When Jan Jongbloed, who had just finished playing in a match for Go Ahead Eagles away to Sparta Rotterdam, heard what had happened from Go Ahead Eagles chairman Hans Nieuwdorp and manager Henk Wullems, he raced back to Amsterdam to support his family.[4][1]
Additionally, during that same storm, both defender Chris Dekker and a linesman were also struck by lightning during Fortuna Sittard's match against Ajax, but both survived.[6]
Jongbloed's funeral was held on 27 September 1984, and was attended by the likes of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels. He was buried wearing his goalkeeper kit.[1]
Personal life
editErik was the son of Dutch international footballer Jan Jongbloed, who played in two FIFA World Cup finals.[3]
At the time of his death, he was dating Jacqueline Swart, the daughter of Dutch international footballer Sjaak Swart.[4] He had previously dated Nancy Froger, the sister of Dutch singer René Froger.[5][7]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 Rudzki, Przemek (31 July 2021). "Za młodzi na sen. Uderzenia piorunem, zawały serca i brutalne faule – tak piłkarze umierali przez dekady na boiskach" [Too Young to Sleep. Lightning Strikes, Heart Attacks, and Brutal Fouls – This Is How Footballers Have Died on the Field for Decades]. Newonce.net (in Polish). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Gandolfi, Remo (24 November 2022). "JAN JONGBLOED: A life outside the area". ilnostrocalcio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Golden generation Dutch keeper Jongbloed dies aged 82". RFI. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "De bliksem was sterker dan mijn liefde - Stichting Niet te Kraken" [The lightning was stronger than my love]. www.niettekraken.nl (in Dutch). 14 April 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 "'De bliksem was sterker dan mijn liefde'" [The lightning was stronger than my love]. Panorama. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 "The son of former Dutch international goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed... - UPI Archives". UPI. 23 September 1984. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Smulders, Peter (12 April 2019). "Het gedeelde verdriet van Jan Jongbloed en Sjaak Swart" [The shared grief of Jan Jongbloed and Sjaak Swart]. Story. Retrieved 5 June 2026.