Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
11:56
Training Rats to Voluntarily Dive Underwater: Investigations of the Mammalian Diving Response
Published on: November 12, 2014
12.8K
Diving-related fatalities: multidisciplinary, experience-based investigation
Josep M Casadesús1,2,3,4, Fernando Aguirre5, Ana Carrera6,7,8
1Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia, (Division of Girona, Spain), Av. Ramón Folch, 4-6, (17001), Girona, Spain. josepmaria.casadesus@udg.edu.
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|March 28, 2019
Summary
Fatal diving accidents, often involving experienced divers using SCUBA, are frequently triggered by exertion or panic. Drowning is the leading cause of death, highlighting the need for better risk factor identification in diving safety.
Area of Science:
- Diving Medicine
- Forensic Pathology
- Accident Analysis
Background:
- Diving-related fatalities present complex causal chains.
- Understanding technical characteristics and causes of death is crucial for prevention.
- Multidisciplinary investigations are essential for accurate fatality analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the technical aspects of fatal diving incidents.
- To determine the causes of death in diving fatalities through sequence analysis.
- To identify risk factors and unsafe diving behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 25 diving fatalities recorded in Girona, Spain (2009-2018).
- Utilized police reports and forensic pathology data.
- Employed sequence analysis to identify triggers, disabling agents, injuries, and causes of death.
Main Results:
- Most victims were males aged 50-69; 11 were experienced divers using open-circuit SCUBA.
- Common triggers included exertion, panic, and buoyancy issues.
- Leading causes of death were drowning, arterial gas embolism, and natural causes; frequent injuries included asphyxia and lung overexpansion.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary approach and sequence analysis are vital for understanding diving fatalities.
- Identifying triggers like panic and rapid ascent can improve diving safety protocols.
- This analysis aids in clarifying underlying issues and preventing future diving accidents.
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