[Al Skierkiewicz]

One of my mentors, a professor at Bradley, once quoted his mentor in a discussion about inductive kick and the effect of opening a generator circuit with a knife switch.
"My boy, there will be a flash of light, a puff of smoke, and you would be holding a switch handle in your hand." Translation...the effect would vaporize the switch contacts leaving you holding the insulated handle.

I have modified this to allow students to visualize the effects of high voltage on the human body to "There will be a flash of light, a puff of smoke and a hole in the air where you used to stand."