A man in his mid 70s passed out inside a hot sauna pool and was not found until half an hour later.
The man was transported by helicopter to a burns center. He was diagnosed with third-degree burns over approximately 50% of his body surface area. He received intensive care therapy with catecholamines, massive transfusion, dialysis, prone ventilation, and repeated debridement. The man died eleven days after admission without regaining consciousness. His known medical history included dementia and hypertension.
A non-natural death was noted on the death certificate. A ‘septic shock’ due to a ‘wound infection’ due to ‘burns of approximately 50% of the body surface area’ is listed as a ‘disease leading directly to death’. Under ‘other major illnesses’, ‘acute renal failure’ and ‘ARDS’ (lung damage) are listed.
A 35-year-old elevator maintenance worker was discovered in a prone position at the base of the elevator shaft where he had conducted maintenance the preceding day. He had been reported missing since the previous evening. The individual was found wearing a bloodstained shirt and trousers that were partially lowered to just above the knees, along with work shoes, of which only the left shoe was worn. Additionally, longitudinal streaks of blood were noted on the walls of the upper compartment at the scene.
