The local community around the Cooroy Sporting Complex on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is reeling after the heartbreaking loss of 21-year-old footballer and coach Finley Bone, who died after being struck by lightning during practice on Thursday afternoon. She had been goal-kicking with her partner at the complex when the bolt hit out of the blue, and was rushed to Nambour Hospital in critical condition, but ultimately could not be saved.
Her mother, Donna Markert, described Finley as “a beautiful, kind and caring young woman taken in the prime of her life.” “No one can believe this happened,” she said, adding with heartbreak: “Finley was 21 and had her life taken away in a minute.”
Finley was deeply involved in the game she loved. She played for the Noosa Lions F.C. women’s side in the FQPL3 league and coached their under-12/13 girls. Her family says she “lived and breathed football” and that brings them a measure of comfort—knowing she was doing what she loved, and with someone she loved, when tragedy struck.
According to emergency services, the strike occurred just before 5.30 pm local time on Thursday at the Cooroy Sporting Complex. Though there was no rainfall at the moment, a thunderstorm cell had moved in rapidly. Bystanders tried to assist with an AED before paramedics arrived and transported Finley via critical care ambulance to Nambour Hospital.
The local football clubs responded with grief and solidarity. The Noosa Lions said they were “devastated by the tragic loss” of one of their own, extending their “heartfelt condolences” to Finley’s parents, Paul and Donna, and all family and friends. The co-occupant club at the complex, Cooroora United Football Club, confirmed the incident, expressed deep sadness and asked the community to remain respectful while support services are provided. All club football activities have been suspended while the community grieves.
Tributes have poured in: floral arrangements at the oval, messages from teammates remembering Finley’s warmth and her “heart of gold”, and words from the community acknowledging how this young life touched so many. Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie offered “our heartfelt condolences” and noted how deeply the region has been affected.
The tragedy also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warns that more thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain and possibly hail are expected across southeast Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast, in the coming days. Experts note that being on open fields or near tall metal objects during a storm increases risk, and urge seeking shelter indoors as soon as thunder is heard.
As the Sunshine Coast football community mourns, Finley’s legacy remains clear: a generous spirit, a coach who gave her time to young players, a competitor who thrived on the field, and someone whose life ended far too soon. Her memory lives on in every kick, every encouraging word she shared, and in the hearts of her teammates and the young girls she coached.
