Citation

Blumenthal R. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2012; 33(1): 83-85.

Affiliation

From the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e31823a8c96

PMID

22104330

Abstract

A 48-year-old-woman was struck dead by lightning on October 24, 2010, in Pretoria, South Africa. The cause of death was due to direct lightning strike. Examination showed secondary missile injury on her legs. This secondary missile (shrapnel) injury was caused by the lightning striking the concrete pavement next to her. Small pieces of concrete were located embedded within the shrapnel wounds. This case report represents the first documented case of secondary missile formation (shrapnel injury) due to lightning strike in the literature.

Language: en