A mum died after being hit by lightning while on holiday with her two children in Croatia. The lightning strike is thought to have entered through Daniella DiMambro's right ear, causing a cardiac arrest.
Senior coroner Mairin Casey heard that a bystander gave CPR but Daniella suffered hypoxic brain injuries. She was taken to hospital in Croatia, then managed in intensive care. She was later repatriated to the UK but died, reports NottinghamshireLive.
The mum was at a beach near Split with her daughter when the incident happened. Daniella, 48, of Nottingham, was put on ventilation in intensive care in the UK. She was treated for a high body temperature and urinary infection.
A specialist said Daniella's prognosis was "poor" - and she was unlikely to make significant neurological improvement. After discussion with her family, including her brother and her parents, she was placed on end-of-life care.
Daniella died on October 7 this year in hospital. The primary cause of death was hypoxic ischemic brain injury, followed by cardiac arrest, then "lightning strike" and urinary tract infection. "This is a very unusual and desperately sad case," said coroner Marin Casey.
"It seems to be so unusual, the appropriate conclusion is narrative. I find she was struck by lightning on August 20, 2022. This caused injuries which ultimately led to her death in the UK on October 7.
"Her death was due to a lightning strike, leading to cardiac arrest and hypoxic ischemic brain injury."
A JustGiving page has been set up in her memory, which is fundraising for The Brain Charity.
