Death Due to Fatal Accidental Electrocution: A case report

CASE REPORT

Death Due to Fatal Accidental Electrocution: A case report

A. G. Pathak1*, N. A. Devraj2, K. M. Chaudhari3, R. K. Gadhari4
1

Associate Professor & Head,

Hospital Dhule, Maharashtra.

2,3,4

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, SBH Medical College & General (civil)

ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Electrocution is an uncommon cause of death and occurs commonly due to accident. Deaths
caused by the passage of electric current, irrespective of the source of such current are described as electrocution.
The severity caused due to electrocution could extend from simple to severe shock leading to death of a person. Most
of the victims of high- tension electrocution die at the scene or declared dead before treatment. In first case report,
deceased having fatal electric shock brought to casualty & declared dead.In second case report, deceased fell down
from height due to electric shock &resulting in head injury.
Keywords: electrocution, high voltage electrocution, charring, wound of entry and exit.

*Corresponding author
Dr. Nilesh A. Devraj
Plot No 1, Gutt No 5/1,
Samarth Nagar, Pimprala Shivar,
Jalgaon, Maharashtra. 425002.
Email: nildev22@gmail.com
No: +919833125415

mortality rate. In this case report we are

presenting two cases of death due to fatal
electrocution which highlights some of the
typical features of electrocution due to
high voltage such as massive destruction
of soft tissue along with exposure of
underlying bone.
Case Report no 1:
A 14yrs old boy was brought to casualty
with history of electric shock while
playing cricket. He was declared dead at
casualty before treatment and dead body
was sent for post-mortem examination.
After receiving accidental death report
from investigating agency and history
obtained from relatives and eye witnesses,
it was prima facie concluded by us that it
was a case of death due to electrocution.
The deceased was playing cricket in the
vicinity of two high tension electric wires.
While playing, the ball got entangled on
the top portion of a truck. The deceased
climbed up the truck to remove the ball. At
that time, there occurred physical contact
with high voltage wires and he got
electrocuted.
On external post-mortem examination, we
noticed the clothes were burnt, at the site
of electrical injuries. Singing of scalp
hairs, eyebrows, eyelashes were present.
Multiple wounds of electrocution were
present over the dead body as follows. 1)
Wound of electrocution over face at the
level of lower jaw and extending backwords covering the right lateral neck
region and reaching up to lower border of
right scapula. It was bone deep. Gross

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INTRODUCTION
Deaths caused by the passage of electric
current, irrespective of the source of such
current are described as electrocution1.
Electrocution is an uncommon cause of
death and occurs commonly due to
accident2
Electricity has astonishingly very good
importance in humans life. One cannot
believe to live without electricity. But we
as human being should not overlook the
pros&cons of electricity in our life. The
endangerment of electricity varies from
simple harmless shock to severe muscle
contraction, unconsciousness and death.
Sometimes the victims may be thrown to
ground causing more fatal injuries. The
first electrical fatality was recorded in
France in 1879 when a stage carpenter was
killed by an alternating current (AC) of
250 volts3.
In India voltage supply for domestic use
electricity is around 220 to 240volts.
Electrocution results when a person
exposed to fatal amount of electricity and
it involves both high voltage (> 600 to 750
V) and low voltage (<600V) currents4.
Injuries from high voltage electrocution
pose a serious threat to life, increasing the

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Death Due to Fatal Accidental Electrocution: A case report

charring, blackening, smell of burning and
Underlying occipital bone was fractured
destruction of soft tissues at the site of jaw
(injury due to fall from height). 3)
with exposure of periostium of underlying
Lacerated wound present over right elbow
mandibular bone & teeth with loosening of
postero-laterally with fracture of radiustooth from socket was seen. Signs of vital
ulna & lower end of humerus (injury due
reaction were present. 2) Wound of
to fall from height).
electrocution was present over left forearm
On internal post-mortem examination,
on dorso-lateral side extending from lower
under scalp hematoma was present over
rd
1/3 up to index finger of left hand, it was
left fronto- parieto- temporal region with
bone deep and underlying bones were
subdural hematoma over left cerebral
intact. Signs of vital reaction were present.
hemisphere at parieto-temporal region.
3) Wound of electrocution was present
Subarachnoid hemorrhage was noted all
over left thigh at medial border extending
over the brain surface. 3rd, 4th, 5thribs were
up to scrotum and penis, pubic hairs were
fractured on right side with multiple
singed and both testis exposed to exterior.
lacerations to right lung. Multiple
Signs of vital reactions were present.
contusions were present left lung. Thoracic
On internal post-mortem examination
cavity contained 500ml of blood & blood
organs, hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage,
clots. Petechial hemorrhagic spots were
trachea were intact. Petechial hemorrhagic
seen on anterior aspect of heart. Other
spots were seen on anterior aspect of heart,
internal organs were intact & stomach was
over both pleurae & meninges. Brain &
empty. So based upon history of the case
lungs were edematous and congested.
& post-mortem findings, we gave our
Stomach was empty. So based upon
opinion as to the cause of death as death
history of the case & post-mortem
due to intracranial hemorrhage due to head
findings, we gave our opinion as to the
injury following electrocution
cause of death as death due to
DISCUSSION
electrocution
Diagram: 1 Distribution of electricity
Case Report no 2:
(reference no4)
42yr old male was brought in dead
condition to the casualty with a history of
fall from the electric pole to the ground.
The deceased was a wireman by
occupation and was working on a high
voltage electric pole for maintenance
work. Suddenly his head got into contact
Photograph of Case report 1: 1showing
with electric wires; he got electrocuted and
typical burn injury due to fatal
fell on the ground. Dead body was sent
electrocution
for post-mortem examination. On external
post-mortem examination, we noticed the
clothes were intact having blood stains
over shirt. Singings of scalp hairs were
present. Two injuries were present over the
dead body as follows: 1) wound of
electrocution (burn area of size 5cm x
3cm, with crater formation at the site of
Photograph of Case report 1: Showing
contact) present over right side of scalp at
burn injury extending up to scapula
the level of parietal region, situated 2cm
lateral to midline; it was extending from
right parietal region to frontal region with
irregular margins and it was bone deep.
Underlying bone was fractured. Signs of
vital reaction were present. 2) Lacerated
wound was present over occipital region of
scalp obliquely placed, and was bone deep.
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Death Due to Fatal Accidental Electrocution: A case report

11
as seen in this case. The electrostatic
Photograph of Case report 1: Showing
forces are responsible for the gross
burn injury involving genitals & medial
mechanical effects on the body and its
aspect left thigh
clothing which occur in high voltage
injuries10.
In case report no 1, entry & exit wound of
electrocution is difficult to appreciate due
to multiple fatal burn wounds, charring at
the site of tissue & gross damage as
extremely high voltage current causes
Photograph of Case report 2: Shows
gross destruction & charring of soft tissues
black charring of skin over scalp as
along with exposure of underlying bone.
entry point of electrocution
Our finding is consistent with author11who
mentioned that in case of high voltage
electrocution there may be extensive
burning or even charring of the body. In
case report no 2. We could appreciate
wound of entry of electrocution but wound
of exit was not present & associated
The laws of physics demand that circuit be
external & internal injuries due to fall from
completed for a flow of electrons to occur.
height following electrocution were noted.
It is this flow of electrons that constitutes
Electrocution continues to be responsible
electric current. The quantum of electrons
for a significant number of deaths in adult
constitutes the amperage, whereas the
population. Deaths are often are
force or potential difference between the
accidental, associated with work place
two ends of circuit constitutes the voltage.
injury7. Almost all Indian workers were
The effects upon a body depend on both
forced to work in the most dangerous jobs
the amperage as well as the voltage of
1
without effective safety measures. Many
electric current .The amount of current
workers are unaware of the potential
that will flow through or over the body
electrical hazards present in their work
may be determined by the formula A= V
environment, which makes them more
R, where A is current in amperes, V is
vulnerable to the dangers of electrocution.
potential difference in volts and R is the
Thus, it seems that the high rate of work
resistance of the body in ohms. The flow
related electrocution mortality in our
of current through the body is great, if the
country can be due to low safety training
voltage is high (more than 1000volts) or if
for workers and their employers 12. Incase
the resistance is low5.
of death due to electrocution unfortunately
Most fatalities occur with the domestic
in most of the cases there are no pathovoltage between 110 & 380 volts, which is
gnomic features, so determination of the
the voltage range of houses & industrial
cause of death relies heavily on the
electricity. The transmission (over
circumstances of death and the findings of
13800volt) & distribution (fewer than
typical electric burn at autopsy 11. The
13800volt) lines typically carry the high
most appropriate steps to take in
voltages6. Most of deaths in fatal
minimizing the chances of childhood
electrocutions
isasystole,
ventricular
electrical injuries and fatalities are to keep
fibrillation or respiratory arrest secondary
electric appliances in child proof cabinets,
to tetanic contraction of respiratory
particularly in the bathroom where there is
muscles or damage to central respiratory
7& 8
access to water. Most of the electrocution
control
. Most of the victims of highdeaths are preventable in nature and they
tension electrocution die at the scene or
can be prevented by implementing proper
declared dead before treatment and not all
education programs to the society
the cases show typical entrance & exit
9
including the electricity board workers
wounds , which is similar with this case.
9&
with regards to the usage of safety
Charring of the skin is frequently present
appliances and insulators.
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Death Due to Fatal Accidental Electrocution: A case report

Conflict of interest: Nil.
with emphasis on human factors. J.
Source of funding: Nil.
Forensic Sci. 1992; 37: 1016- 22.
8. Martinez JA, Nguyen T. Electrical
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