Suicidal drowning in Southwestern Croatia: a 25-year review

• Published in: The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 52 - 54
• Main Authors: Stemberga, Valter, Bralic, Marina, Coklo, Miran, Cuculic, Drazen, Bosnar, Alan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-2010
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Baths; Central Nervous System Depressants - blood; Croatia - epidemiology; Drowning - mortality; Ethanol - blood; Female; Forensic Medicine; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Oceans and Seas; Retrospective Studies; Rivers; Seasons; Sex Distribution; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; Croatia
• ISSN: 0195-7910; 1533-404X
• DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181c215c8

We designed a retrospective study to analyze suicidal drowning deaths occurring between 1981 and 2005. During the study period there were 134 cases of suicidal drowning accounting 10% of all suicides, and 31% of all drowning deaths. Of the 134 drowning suicides, 76 (57%) incidents occurred in the sea, 46 (34%) in water wells, 8 (6%) in rivers, and 4 (3%) in bathtubs. During the study period, cases of suicidal drowning were not identified in males and females under the age of 20. In females aged 65 years and older, drowning represents the most common type of suicide. Commonly, the victims were sober at the time of the incident. Cases of suicidal drowning committed in water wells are unexpectedly high, considering abundance of salt water.