*Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Sector 5, Nerul (East), Navi Mumbai-400706. Maharashtra, India. E mail: dramp1976@gmail.com.
**Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur
***Assoc. Prof, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai
Deaths due to fall from height are more commonly seen in urban area especially where high rise buildings are constructed. Invariably such falls from great height results in tragic death of the innocent victims mainly construction workers who are working without any safety measures. A fatal fall from height can result from accident, suicide or homicide. This paper reports an unusual incident where four construction worker suffered accidental fall due to snapping of the cable of a temporary elevator erected at the construction site. Out of the four victims, one died on the spot while the remaining three victims were hospitalized who subsequently died within few hours of admission due to the fatal injuries sustained during the fall. The medico-legal autopsy on each of the victims showed characteristic pattern of skeletal and internal injuries sustained on account of blunt trauma due to fall from height. The following case is reported due to its rarity and unusual form of accidental death due to fall from height.
Fall from height, Elevator, Accident, Blunt trauma, Skeletal & Internal Injuries
