A Danish footballer has been forced to have his leg amputated six weeks after being struck by lightning during a friendly.

Jonathan Richter, 24, was playing for his club FC Nordsjaelland at second-tier Hvidovre on July 20 when he was struck.

Medics restarted his heart, but he was placed in an induced coma and doctors decided that the damage to his leg was so severe they needed to amputate the lower portion of it.

A message on the club's website read: "Jonathan's progress means a lot to the Richter family, friends and all involved with FC Nordsjaelland, but the family now request that all continue to respect the peace that Jonathan needs in the future as he faces tough rehabilitation."

He was reportedly recovering well from the operation and was expected to be moved out of intensive care shortly.