ELECTROCUTION IN A FOOTBALL VIEWING CENTRE IN CALABAR, SOUTH NIGERIA
Abstract
Electrocution is the passage of a substantial electrical current through tissues with resultant skin lesions, organ damage, and death. Deaths from Electrocution may result from a person exposed to a lethal amount of electricity which may be due to high or low voltage. It is usually accidental in nature and homicidal electrocution is rare in Nigeria but cannot be ruled out. The maintenance of electrical installation is the poor and illegal construction of buildings such as football viewing centers, stores and an even residential apartment under high tension cables is a common occurrence. These buildings are usually marked for demolition but the occupants are adamant. We report a case of seven persons ranging in age from 13 to 65 years and comprising of a female and six male with a ratio of 1:6; who sustained various degrees of electrical burns to their upper, lower limbs, trunk resulting in death. The cause of death was sudden and determine by autopsy to be ventricular arrhythmias.
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References
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