title: Fatal diving accidents: two case reports and an overview of the role of forensic examinations.
abstract: During the years 2004-2006, seven divers, who had deadly accidents, underwent post-mortem examination at the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University of Munich. The cause of death in all divers was drowning with typical pathomorphological findings. This should be regarded as separated to the triggering reason for drowning. The trigger for accident was established in four of seven cases by technical analysis and police investigation. High risk-taking, lack of technical service, and deficiency of dive equipment care were main reasons for death. We present two of these cases which showed several problems occurring concurrently. Autopsy always is necessary to look for indices for application of force or to exclude competitive reasons for death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, University of Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 26, 80336 München, Germany. Sybille.Luederwald@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Sybille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lüderwald
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zinka
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004332:Drowning / Q000473:pathology*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000473:pathology; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen