Injuries sustained from high-velocity impact with water after jumps from high bridges. A preliminary report of 10 cases.

Autopsy findings in 10 cases of high-velocity impact with water--all suicides--are demonstrated. The injuries vary from no lesion at all to severe injuries, the fatal injuries predominately located to the thorax and the spine. All but one victim fell 35-37 meters; the last one fell 51 meters. The cause of death was drowning in six cases; in four cases, injuries were responsible for the fatal outcome. Head and neck injuries of any importance were not observed in the present investigation.