When a person is struck by lightning, as much as 300,000 volts of electricity can pass through the body at speeds of up to 60,000 miles per second. Temperatures of objects and material through which lightning passes can reach up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. As lightning enters the body, its only purpose is to find a way out. The lightning will take the shortest route possible out of the body. However, on its fast journey through the body, lightning can cause severe injury, or even death.
Electrical current is what makes our hearts beat.
In some cases, the heart resumes beating spontaneously. In addition to cardiac arrest, the tremendous surge of electrical current going through the body can cause severe burns, both internally and externally. In addition to external burns where the lightning entered and exited the body, lightning can seriously damage internal organs and tissue. The severity of injuries caused by lightning can range from fatal to relatively minor, depending on the route the lightning takes through the body. All victims of lightning strikes should obtain immediate medical attention, even if no injuries are noticed, since injuries may be internal.