title: Characteristic features of suicidal drownings: a 20-year study.
abstract: A retrospective study of cases of drowning suicide was undertaken at the Forensic Science Centre in Adelaide, South Australia for the period April 1980 to March 2000. A total of 123 cases were found, with 76 males (age, 16-88 years; average, 50.5 years; standard deviation [SD], 20.1 years) and 47 females (age, 34-88 years; average, 60.6 years; SD, 13.9 years). There were 66 fresh water drownings and 57 saltwater drownings. Female victims were significantly older than male victims for both fresh water and saltwater drownings (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). Deaths in young women were rare. No temporal trend in drowning suicides could be shown, with annual numbers varying from 0 to 12 cases (average, 6.15; median, 7). Women preferentially chose the ocean or bath to drown themselves in, whereas males chose rivers, ditches, and lakes. Swimming pools were rarely used for suicide in this population; alcohol use was not usual; and there was often a significant history of mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Centre, Adelaide, Australia. byardr01@forensic.sa.gov.au
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Houldsworth
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004332:Drowning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*