Survival following cardiac arrest due to lightning strike

R Wahida; P Hollis; D Inwald

doi:10.1017/S1047951125001349

Survival following cardiac arrest due to lightning strike

Cardiol Young. 2025 Jul;35(7):1443-1445. doi: 10.1017/S1047951125001349. Epub 2025 Aug 8.

Authors

R Wahida¹, P Hollis², D Inwald¹

Affiliations

¹ Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK.
² Paediatric Cardiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

PMID: 40776669
DOI: 10.1017/S1047951125001349

Abstract

Lightning strike is rare, with a reported incidence of around 1:100,000. There are few reports of survival after cardiac arrest due to lightning strike. We report the case of a 12-year-old male survivor. Though he had a prolonged out of hospital cardiac arrest and initial poor systolic function, widespread ST segment elevation on electrocardiography, and elevated cardiac troponin I, he survived with a good cardiac and neurological outcome.

Keywords: Lightning strike; cardiopulmonary arrest; survival.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / methods
Child
Electrocardiography
Heart Arrest* / etiology
Humans
Lightning Injuries* / complications
Male
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest* / etiology
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest* / therapy