Diver Death due to Underwater Explosion.

Na, Joo Young; Park, Jeong Woo; Yoon, Seok Hyun; Park, Jong Shin; Choi, Byung Ha; Kim, Youn Shin

doi:2014.38.4.171

Korean J Leg Med > Volume 38(4); 2014 > Article

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2014;38(4):171-174.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.4.171 Published online November 30, 2014.

Diver Death due to Underwater Explosion.

Joo Young Na, Jeong Woo Park, Seok Hyun Yoon, Jong Shin Park, Byung Ha Choi, Youn Shin Kim

¹Forensic Medicine Division, Gwangju Institute, National Forensic Service, Jangseong, Korea. pdrdream@gmail.com
²Physical Engineering Division, Gwangju Institute, National Forensic Service, Jangseong, Korea.
³Forensic Chemistry Division, Gwangju Institute, National Forensic Service, Jangseong, Korea.
⁴Medical Examiner's Office, National Forensic Service, Wonju, Korea.
⁵Department of Forensic Medicine, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.

Abstract

A 44-year-old man was cutting an outer plate of a ship, at a depth of 25 m below sea level. Following a sudden explosion, he was discovered unconscious and was carried to the surface by other divers. There was no evidence of vital signs upon arrival at the hospital. Postmortem computed tomography, which was performed prior to autopsy, revealed massive pneumocephalus in the brain, pneumohemothorax, diffuse lung contusions with multiple traumatic lung cysts, air-fluid level in the cardiac chamber of the chest, and pneumoperitoneum in the abdomen. Postmortem external examination showed a circular abrasion on the jaw, diffuse subcutaneous emphysema, and contusion in the right upper arm. An internal examination revealed intravascular air bubbles in all four chambers of the heart, and diffuse pulmonary trauma including contusion, laceration, and multiple traumatic cysts. Blast injury to the chest, and air embolism due to the underwater explosion were established as the underlying cause of death.

Key Words: Air embolism, Blast injury, Diving, Autopsy