High free fall with survival.

A free fall, the unimpeded drop of a body from a known point to a known impaction point, is common in modern society. Death usually results when distance is more than six stories. The following case report describes the circumstances which allowed a young man attempting suicide to survive a 17-storey free fall. Although his impact velocity was estimated to be 72 m.p.h. (uncorrected for air drag), he impacted in a supine position on an automobile trunk lid so that some of the force was dissipated by tires and shock absorbers. Multiple fractures and soft-tissue injuries and a subsequent stress ulcer were successfully treated and the patient has a satisfactory level of physical activity while remaining under psychiatric care 1 year postinjury.