Citation

Kumar V. Med. Sci. Law 2007; 47(2): 171-173.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, Forensic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala-Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. drvkr_2001@yahoo.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, British Academy of Forensic Sciences, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17520964

Abstract

Lightning is a powerful natural electrostatic discharge produced during a thunderstorm. The electric current passing through the discharge channels is direct with a potential of 1000 million volts or more. Lightning can kill or injure a person by a direct strike, a side-flash, or conduction through another object. Lightning can cause a variety of injuries in the skin and the cardiovascular, neurological and ophthalmic systems. Filigree burn of lightning is a superficial burn and very rare. Two cases of death from lightning which have this rare finding are reported and discussed.

Language: en