title: [Death in a rainwater tank--unusual death by hypothermia].
abstract: Death due to hypothermia is often accidental and associated with alcohol intoxication, diseases or previous trauma. A very rare phenomenon is suicidal hypothermia. A 74-year-old depressive woman was found dead in a rain barrel with her head above the water level in February at an outdoor temperature of 0 degrees C. Forensic autopsy did not reveal any findings typical of drowning. Likewise, there was no morphological evidence of hypothermia, but this cannot be expected in immersion hypothermia with a very short agony. Unusual situations at scene always require comprehensive police investigations and medicolegal examinations.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität Bonn.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doberentz
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000473:pathology*; D007101:Immersion; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*