Petri Nadan M, Stipancevic Hrvoje, Sutlovic Davorka, Gojanovic Marija Definis
Naval Medicine Department, Military Medical Center Split, and University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2011 Jun;32(2):186-9. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181d3de7a.
Scuba diving fatalities are rare and sometimes extremely difficult to explain. A thorough forensic investigation, conducted by a qualified team, helps avoid possible later questions and doubts, family concerns and judicial matters, since a significant body of evidence is lost after the body of the victim is buried or the equipment is reused. We report about a death of a scuba diver who was drowned while diving to the depth of 30 meters. Before being assisted to the surface, the diver panicked and removed the regulator from his mouth. The technical expertise of the scuba gear and the chemical analysis of the air from the high-pressure cylinder revealed no irregularities. Homicide, suicide, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, and regulator malfunction were ruled out as possible causes of death. The most probable cause that triggered the event was vomiting into the regulator, as confirmed nearly 4 years later by the toxicological analysis of the traces of matter found in the dry chamber of the breathing regulator. Such an analysis should be considered when investigating suspicious diving related deaths and could be undertaken even after a significant time delay if the equipment is kept properly stored.
水肺潜水死亡事件较为罕见，有时极难解释清楚。由专业团队进行全面的法医调查，有助于避免日后可能出现的疑问和质疑、家属担忧以及司法问题，因为受害者尸体被埋葬或设备被重新使用后，大量证据就会丢失。我们报告了一名水肺潜水者的死亡案例，他在潜入30米深处时溺水身亡。在被救至水面之前，潜水者惊慌失措，将调节器从口中取出。对水肺装备的技术鉴定以及对高压气瓶中空气的化学分析均未发现异常。排除了他杀、自杀、氮麻醉、氧中毒和调节器故障等可能的死因。引发这起事件最可能的原因是呕吐物进入了调节器，近4年后对呼吸调节器干燥腔中发现的微量物质进行毒理学分析证实了这一点。在调查可疑的潜水相关死亡事件时，应考虑进行这样的分析，并且如果设备妥善保存，即使在很长时间之后也可以进行分析。
