Football Federation Australia (FFA) was saddened to hear the news on Sunday that young Australian Goalkeeper Stefan Petrovski passed away following tragic circumstances in Malaysia.
On behalf of the Australian football community, FFA sends their deepest condolences to the Petrovski family, friends and teammates.
Stefan was a young goalkeeper who had a bright future, having recently signed a professional three-year-deal with Malaysian side Melaka United who were in their first season back in the Malaysian Premier League.
The 18-year-old custodian, who spent most of his childhood growing up in Forest Lodge in Sydney’s Inner West, was tragically struck by lightning in a freak accident in Malacca on April 5 during a training session when lightning struck the goalposts he and a team-mate were standing near.
He had been in a coma in intensive care since then, but the club confirmed Petrovski's death on Sunday at 4:40pm local time.
"Melaka United have lost one of their valuable gem as their reserve goalkeeper Marko Stefan Petrovski, 18 passed away later this evening," the club said in a statement on Facebook.
"His parents Marjan Petrovski and Marie Lupang was in Malacca for almost a month while the deceased was in the hospital receiving treatment.
"Melaka United truly felt saddened and lost with his passing."