DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE - Hillsborough ...

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DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE
GUY'S HOSPITAL
(UNIVERSITY OF LONDON)
Dr. I.E. -WEST. MB.. FR.C.Pwix.. D.M.J.
Dr. R.T. SHEPHERD B.Sc., M 3., J3.S, M-R.C.Piih-. D.M.J.
Direct Telephone Line 071-107 03?g /071-103 1118)
(Fa*: 071-J03 7292)
P - 0 8
UNITED MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCHOOL
GUYS AND ST, THOMAS'S HOSPITAL
LONDON BRIDGE, SE1 9RT
TELEPHONE: 071 -955 5000 Ext: 3118 / 3119
appears to be in his lungs which were bruised with a laceration of
the right lung associated with a rib injury. The rib injury and
bruising of the adjacent intercostal spaces suggests a localised
pressure or impact, in that region of the right chest. It is likely
to have Been due to localised pressure, probably on the young man’s
back, forcing the right side of his chest against an object causing
the right s i d e d ribs to be forced inwards towards the spine. If
this pressure were maintained then death would undoubtedly occur
very rapidly but I would have expected to have found sorae-evidence
^ of the more classic changes associated with traumatic asphyxia. If,
however, the pressure is relieved then death from injuries of this
type may take considerable time to supervene. Unconsciousness is
likely to be fairly rapid but death could have taken a substantial
number of minutes and it would be impossible, from a medical point
of view, to state that this boy was dead at 3,15 pm.
In conclusion there is clear evidence that some of the victims have
suffered severe traumatic asphyxia in the classic sense in which the term
• is employed'. Jnconscious:iess is liKely to have occurred quite rapidly,
in probably somewhere between 15 and 45 seconds but dearh would have been
delayed for a number cf minutes. In those who where severely crushed so
the venous drainage from the head was impeded then it is probable that
death would have occurred within 10 minutes of sustained pressure
commencing. if the pressure was not continuous survival could be for
a longer period.
In the individuals who have scanty signs or no signs of traumatic
asphyxia it is much more difficult to predict the survival time. To
re|l’ce the survival time to a very short number of minutes would require
cf^Linuous sustained severe compression of the chest. Because of the
r ure of the incident it is impossible in many instance to know when
mechanical compression of the chest would have commenced. I feel it is
impossible to state purely from the medical point of view that a number
of the young men that I have indicated above could not been alive at 3.15
pm. Those dying as the result of anoxic damage consequent to their chests
being crushed could well have survived for a much longer period only to
die subsequently from the effects of irreversible anoxia.
[ain Eric West, M.B., cn.B F. R. CTPath., D.M.J
Consultant Forensic Pathologist,
iirector, Department of Forensic Medicine,
’nited Medical Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas',
uy's Hospital,
ondon, SEl 9RT.