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Accidental hanging by a sweater: an unusual case
Yudha Nurhantari1, Migiwa Asano, Hideyuki Nushida
1Department of Legal Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Summary
This case report details an accidental atypical hanging death caused by a sweater collar. High blood alcohol levels likely contributed to the fatal incident.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Atypical hanging deaths present unique challenges in forensic investigation.
- The role of alcohol intoxication in accidental deaths requires thorough toxicological analysis.
Observation:
- A 67-year-old male was discovered deceased, seated, with his sweater collar looped around a motorcycle's brake handle.
- Autopsy revealed characteristic signs of hanging, including neck ligature marks and petechial hemorrhages in the eyes, larynx, and oral mucosa.
- Significant blood (2.84 mg/ml) and urine (3.52 mg/ml) alcohol levels were detected.
Findings:
- The cause of death was determined to be hanging, facilitated by the sweater collar.
- Internal hemorrhages in neck muscles and hyoid bone submucosa were consistent with the observed ligature mark.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for everyday objects to cause fatal accidental strangulation, especially under the influence of alcohol.
- It underscores the importance of considering environmental factors and substance intoxication in the determination of accidental death mechanisms.