Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/23116
Citations
Scopus Web of ScienceĀ® Altmetric
?
?
Type: Journal article
Title: Recovery of human remains after shark attack
Author: Byard, R.
James, R.
Heath, K.
Citation: American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 2006; 27(3):256-259
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Issue Date: 2006
ISSN: 0195-7910
1533-404X
Abstract: Two cases of fatal shark attack are reported where the only tissues recovered were fragments of lung. Case 1: An 18-year-old male who was in the sea behind a boat was observed by friends to be taken by a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). The shark dragged him under the water and then, with a second shark, dismembered the body. Witnesses noted a large amount of blood and unrecognizable body parts coming to the surface. The only tissues recovered despite an intensive beach and sea search were 2 fragments of lung. Case 2: A 19-year-old male was attacked by a great white shark while diving. A witness saw the shark swim away with the victim's body in its mouth. Again, despite intensive beach and sea searches, the only tissue recovered was a single piece of lung, along with pieces of wetsuit and diving equipment. These cases indicate that the only tissue to escape being consumed or lost in fatal shark attacks, where there is a significant attack with dismemberment and disruption of the integrity of the body, may be lung. The buoyancy of aerated pulmonary tissue ensures that it rises quickly to the surface, where it may be recovered by searchers soon after the attack. Aeration of the lung would be in keeping with death from trauma rather than from drowning and may be a useful marker in unwitnessed deaths to separate ante- from postmortem injury, using only relatively small amounts of tissues. Early organ recovery enhances the identification of human tissues as the extent of morphologic alterations by putrefactive processes and sea scavengers will have been minimized. DNA testing is also possible on such recovered fragments, enabling confirmation of the identity of the victim.
Keywords: shark attack
death
lung
DOI: 10.1097/01.paf.0000221081.80866.5c
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.paf.0000221081.80866.5c
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest 6
Pathology publications

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.