Is there a physiological reason why direct lightning strikes are not lethal for everyone or does it all come down to dumb luck?
Is there a physiological reason why direct lightning strikes are not lethal for everyone or does it all come down to dumb luck?


To be lethal a lighting strike has to do enough damage to a critical organ that the injury is not survivable.  Since electricity can take highly variable paths through a body, the amount of damage inflicted is also highly variable.  

For example, current entering on the head and exiting on the foot stands a good chance of passing through both the brain and heart.  This is likely to be a very severe injury.  Conversely, current entering on the left hand and exiting on the left foot does not cross the body and may leave superficial burns but limited internal injuries.