[A spectacular sailing accident. A contribution to the problem of combined/concurrent causes of death in high-voltage injuries].

During a sailing maneuvre the mast of the boat was brought into contact with a high-voltage transmission line; the metal parts of the boat caused a ground connection into the water. At first, the four men on board the boat attempted to interrupt the flow of electric current. In doing so, one of them got into the electric circuit and became unconscious. A second sailer jumped into the water, in order to save his unconscious colleague by pulling him ashore. This attempt, however, was not successful. Only the bodies of the two sailors could be recovered by divers. The forensic findings concerning each of the two bodies, as well as the results of an on-the-spot examination done with the help of the two survivors of the accident, are discussed with emphasis on the electrophysical laws related to the causes of death.