Motorboat Propeller Injuries

Abstract

The authors anlayze the case of an Albanian refugee who was killed by the propellers of the outboard engine of a rubber dinghy while illegally attempting to reach Italy. The finding of multiple parallel, deep clear-cut injuries is uncommon, but highly characteristic of the object producing the lesions. These are typical and cannot be mistaken with those produced by sharp objects or shark bites. The description of the injuries is vital for establishing the position of the victim with regard to the propellet that struck him.

Fatal propeller injuries: Three autopsy case reports

“…Propeller injuries are commonly caused by high-speed propellers of motorboats and water ski engines rather than those of large vessels. 7 In the three accidents discussed by us, the boats involved were relatively small boats, approximately 10 m in length. One of the reasons for such boats causing propeller injuries is believed to be that they often run close to swimmers or divers.…”

Helicopter induced propeller injuries

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. They are often characterized by multiple, parallel deep, and mostly clear-cut injuries.…”

“…There was a complete decapitation concentrated at the skull cap (Figs. 3,4) and the base of the skull was crushed. The brain had been torn out of the cranial cavity.…”

The assessment of lethal propeller strike injuries in sea mammals

“…12 Similarly, differentiating these injuries from those inflicted by predators such as sharks may also be necessary. 13 Shark bites tend to be paired or single, often with a curved shape that matches the dental arcade of the attacking animal. Shark teeth also tend to leave triangular-shaped wedges of soft tissue with shredding of tissues, 7 and there may be fragments of shark teeth embedded in long bones.…”