[Fatal electric accident due to adverse error situation]. / Tödlicher Stromunfall aufgrund ungünstiger Fehlerkonstellation.

Despite wearing high-impedance shoes, a young male died while trying to connect a garden pump (230 V). The cause of death could easily be determined on the basis of testimonies of eye-witnesses and an electric mark on the body. Histological and electron microscopic examinations showed metallisation of the electric mark (pure iron). Intensive investigative efforts were needed, however, to reproduce the current path, which resulted from three different coactive failures. The electrotechnical characteristics of the case and the resulting current path are described.