Death by lightning

Abstract

Modern knowledge of the amplitudes and waveshapes of lightning currents enables a method of determining the electrical effects of a direct lightning stroke to be established. It has been shown that this entails an initial current discharge through the body, followed by an external flashover. The amplitude and waveshape of the current flowing through a body can thus be determined. The phenomenon of a back flashover, which is a familiar concept to h.v. transmission engineers, is paralleled by the so-called side flash to a person or animal, e.g. when sheltering under a tree or in close proximity to a metal fence. Another possibility is a direct stroke to earth, producing so high a potential drop over the ground surface as to paralyse or shock people over a wide area. From the medical point of view, it is important to apply this knowledge to understand the nature of the current and its pathway through the body. It may then be possible to postulate the possible effects of the lightning stroke on the different bodily systems. While clearly it is not possible to test these conclusions by planned investigations, they may be examined in the light of reported observation from accidents.