What is the primary cause of death from a lightning strike?

The primary cause of death from a lightning strike is disruption of heart and respiratory function. When an individual is struck by lightning, the high voltage and current can cause immediate and profound physiological effects. The electric shock can lead to ventricular fibrillation, which is a life-threatening heart rhythm that causes the heart to quiver instead of pumping blood effectively. Additionally, the strike can interfere with the normal functioning of the respiratory system, leading to respiratory arrest.

This disruption is critical because both the heart and the respiratory system are essential for sustaining life. If either function ceases, it can rapidly lead to death if not promptly addressed through resuscitation efforts such as CPR and defibrillation.

The other options describe possible effects of lightning strikes but do not capture the primary overall mechanism leading to fatality as comprehensively as the disruption of both heart and respiratory functions does.