An Unusual Case of Lightning in the Transkei Region of South Africa: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: A fern pattern on the skin of a victim of lightning strike is a rare, but pathognomic finding. Forensic pathologists who are not trained in this specialty might attach little medico-legal importance to such a cutaneous lesion as a result of lightning. Objective: To highlight an unusual case of lightning in the Transkei region of South Africa. Case history: ZG, a 25 year old woman, suffered a filigree burn caused by a lightning strike in 2000. She has a permanent superficial rare burn of a feathering variety on the antero-lateral aspect of her right leg. It resembles a ‘fern pattern’ in appearance. At the time of the lightning strike she was in a rondavel and lucky to escape. She was admitted to Mthatha General Hospital where she was unconscious for two days. She was brought to the hospital by police. She regained consciousness and was discharged after three days. The history of injury, physical findings, mechanism of injury and psychosocial aspects has been described in this report. Conclusion: The problem of lightning deaths where women are implicated as a witch causing the lightning strike is common in the Transkei region of South Africa.