6533b838fe1ef96bd12a4885

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Investigation of the skin lesions in lightning strike death

Stefano VaninElvira Ventura SpagnoloChiara StassiCataldo RaffinoGennaro BaldinoCristina Mondello

subject

MaleForensic pathologymedicine.medical_specialtyAutopsy01 natural sciencesPathology and Forensic MedicineForensic pathology03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicinemedicineHumans030216 legal & forensic medicineAccidental deathCause of deathbusiness.industry010401 analytical chemistryMiddle AgedLightning0104 chemical sciencesIssues ethics and legal aspectsLightning strikeAccidental death; Forensic pathology; Lichtenberg figures; Lightning injuriesLightning injuriesThunderstormWounds GunshotLichtenberg figuresAutopsyRadiologyHomicideSkin lesionbusinessLightning injuries

description

Lightning strike-related deaths are unusual, and the victim bodies can present different lesions due to the different injury mechanisms associated with this event. Since the post mortem assessment can be challenging, the evaluation of the characteristics of the skin lesions becomes fundamental to reconstruct the event. Due to the paucity of literature on this topic, the authors report the case of a 59-year-old man found dead near his home after a thunderstorm. Initially considered a murder by gunshot, the autopsy revealed the typical lightning strike lesions, also known as Lichtenberg figures. The adequate interpretation of the autopsy data and the histological evidences allowed to reconstruct the death dynamic and to relate it to a lightning strike. The main lesions due to lightening are here reported and discussed in order to provide a workflow for the identification of lightening as cause of death in unwitnessed cases.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2021-01-01
10.1016/j.legalmed.2021.101896http://hdl.handle.net/11567/1057512