A fifth mechanism of lightning injury.
The four classic electrical mechanisms of lightning injury cannot account for all injuries. A fifth mechanism, injury by a weak upward streamer that does not become part of a completed lightning channel, has long been postulated in the engineering literature by lightning researchers. This paper reports a case of death where injury from a weak upward streamer is strongly suspected following forensic investigation. Neither high voltage nor any of the previously accepted mechanisms of lightning injury can explain this incident.
Cooper
Mary Ann
MA
Departments of Bioengineering Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7354, USA. macooper@uic.edu
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015168:Lightning Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged