title: Suicide due to four speargun shots: a case report.
abstract: In the literature, only a few cases of deaths related to the use of atypical firearms are present and even more rare are cases of suicide due to multiple lesions.In the present case, the authors report a rare occurrence of suicide due to 4 speargun shots, 3 to the chest and 1 to the head.A complete forensic approach led to attribute the death to acute cardiac failure due to hemopericardium after the injury of the left coronary artery.Scene investigation and autoptic findings allowed authors to hypothesize that injury to the head was a last attempt of suicide, elapsed during the progression of cardiac tamponade.With this report, the authors would like to share knowledge with the forensic community about speargun-related lesions distinguishing them from the very similar ones produced by cold steels.It also shows how it is possible to survive for some time after being shot by such a weapon.
authors: Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Bonsignore
authors: Luca Vallega
authors: LV
authors: Bernucci
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Canepa
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Ventura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide; D054041:Weapons; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*