Sudden death due to acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis

In deaths occurring suddenly and unexpectedly the non availability of clinical history compounds the already existing problem for the forensic pathologist in arriving at the cause of death. Sudden death following acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis although reported is an uncommon phenomenon. A case is reported wherein an apparently healthy male aged 45 years and a known alcoholic was found dead in his room. Post mortem examination and histopathology confirmed it to be a case of sudden death due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.