Unusual Lightning Strike Causing Death: A Case report

In daily autopsies, lightning-related deaths are an uncommon occurrence. Lightning-related deaths are more common in mountainous, wet regions, although they are uncommon in and around Erbil city. Lightning is typically connected to rain, and while lightning-related injuries may be distinguished from electrocution, the latter is also frequently observed. The majority of lightning-related injuries to adults and the elderly are not lethal, but if an individual's strong strike is involved, there may be a tragic outcome. These factors should be investigated in cases of adult fatal lightning deaths. Lightning fatalities are infrequently discussed in medical literature, but since many outdoor workers are implicated, there is a need for more research in this area. Research on lightning deaths in Iraq, a country with a continental, semi-arid, and subtropical climate, needs to focus more on factors of human fatality prevention and treatment. Though more prevalent in adults than in children, an adult death by lightning is documented here. The autopsy results and scene investigation were vital in ascertaining the cause of death.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences
Published
2025-10-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2025.051
Primary Topic
Burn Injury Management and Outcomes
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Unusual Lightning Strike Causing Death: A Case report

Y. Amin
Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences
Burn Injury Management and Outcomes
article

Unusual Lightning Strike Causing Death: A Case report

Y. Amin
article en

Abstract

In daily autopsies, lightning-related deaths are an uncommon occurrence. Lightning-related deaths are more common in mountainous, wet regions, although they are uncommon in and around Erbil city. Lightning is typically connected to rain, and while lightning-related injuries may be distinguished from electrocution, the latter is also frequently observed. The majority of lightning-related injuries to adults and the elderly are not lethal, but if an individual's strong strike is involved, there may be a tragic outcome. These factors should be investigated in cases of adult fatal lightning deaths. Lightning fatalities are infrequently discussed in medical literature, but since many outdoor workers are implicated, there is a need for more research in this area. Research on lightning deaths in Iraq, a country with a continental, semi-arid, and subtropical climate, needs to focus more on factors of human fatality prevention and treatment. Though more prevalent in adults than in children, an adult death by lightning is documented here. The autopsy results and scene investigation were vital in ascertaining the cause of death.

Zanco Journal of Medical SciencesVol. Special(October 2025)
Kurdistan Regional Government (IQ)
Openalex Percentile: Top 60%
Burn Injury Management and Outcomes
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.