Being struck by lightning can be one of the scariest experiences of someone’s life. Sometimes it can even be fatal. But a majority of the time it looks a lot worse than it actually is.
For those unlucky souls that do get struck by lightning, the discharge often leaves a permanent scar like a tattoo or a birthmark better known as a Lichtenberg figure. Named after the discovering German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, these figures mimic the branch like look of lightning bolts streaking through the air.
Along with the bolt scars come hematomas, memory issues, headaches along with other debilitating lifelong issues. Not to be too worried though, your chances of getting struck are pretty slim with a 1 in 12,000 chance of lighting unleashing their power on you. And of the 500 people who are struck annually, about 90% survive.
Below you’ll find a few examples of people who were unfortunately struck by lightning with the Lichtenberg figure being left behind.