A mum suffered injuries which led to her death after she was struck by lightning whilst holidaying in Croatia with her two children in "a desperately sad case", an inquest in Nottingham was told. The freak lightning strike was thought to have entered through Daniella DiMambro's right ear.
She suffered an "out of hospital cardiac arrest", secondary to having been struck by lightning, said senior coroner for Nottingahmshire, Mairin Casey. A bystander gave CPR but sadly Daniella suffered hypoxic brain injuries (brain injuries that form due to a restriction on the oxygen being supplied to the brain).
She was taken to hospital in Croatia, then managed in intensive care. She was later repatriated to the UK but died from the brain injuries.
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"The lightning strike is thought to have entered through the right ear," Miss Casey said at the Nottingham Council House hearing on Wednesday, October 19. The mum was reported to have been at a beach near Split with her daughter when the incident happened.
Daniella, 48, of Mansfield Road, Nottingham, was on ventilation in intensive care in Nottingham and her condition was regularly reviewed and she was put on seizure medication. She was treated for a high body temperature and urinary infection.
Her family sought an expert opinion from a specialist in London - the specialist agreeing the prognosis was "poor" - and she was unlikely to make significant neurological improvement. After discussion with her family, including her brother and her parents, this led to a decision that 'neurological pathway' care, as advised by treating clinicians, was the most acceptable way forward.
"And, sadly, following her exacerbation, she was put on palliative end-of-life care," said Miss Casey. Tragically, Daniella died on October 7 this year in hospital in Nottingham. Her identity was confirmed by her treating clinician.
The death was referred to Miss Casey by the same doctor. The primary cause of death, which is termed as 1a, was hypoxic ischemic brain injury, followed by 1b, cardiac arrest, then "lightning strike" and urinary tract infection. "This is a very unusual and desperately sad cas ," added Miss Casey, who opened and concluded the inquest at the same hearing.
"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." Miss Casey ended by expressing her sincere condolences to Daniella's family and children, who were not at the short hearing.
A JustGiving page has been set up in her memory, which is fundraising for The Brain Charity, and donations have risen to £115. And details of her funeral have been posted on public page, DiMambro Pilates Physiotherapy, giving the date as Friday, October 28, at 9am at Gedling Crematorium, Catfoot Lane, NG4 4QH.
A statement reads: "Rather than buying tons of flowers, we would be grateful if you might instead contribute to one of these three charities." The charities are:
SALVATION ARMY: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/danidimambro
THE BRAIN CHARITY https://www.justgiving.com/fundra.../emily-dimambro-mosscrop
DEMENTIA UK: https://www.justgiving.com/fundr.../emily-dimambro-mosscrop1
- According to National Geographic, about 2,000 people are killed worldwide by lightning each year. Hundreds more survive strikes but suffer from a variety of lasting symptoms, including memory loss, dizziness, weakness, numbness, and other life-altering ailments. Strikes can cause cardiac arrest and severe burns, but nine of every 10 people survive.
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