Drowning following a lightening strike

Abstract

Case reportA body of a 30 year old male was found floating in the sea around 5.30pm, on a rainy day with thunder and lightning. When he was last seen alive (at 4.30pm), he had been fishing as usual on a rock in the sea, at Ratgama. He was brought to the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya (THK) and confirmed dead at the OPD.Examination of clothing -The front of the Tshirt was irregularly torn and the edges were wrinkled from the level of the neck downwards leaving a deficiency of about 30cm x 20cm. The back of the T-shirt was stained with blood. The short trousers were intact. Pockets did not contain mobile phones or any metal objects.External examination -The face was congested, and whitish fine froth was seen on the nostrils and a bloody discharge was seen at the mouth. There were no petechiae in head or face. There were no metal ornaments.