Abstract
Search of files at Forensic Science SA, Australia, over the past 20 years (1997–2016) revealed three cases of death due to crush asphyxia associated with the use of ride-on lawn mowers. (1) A 61-year-old man was trapped under a ride-on mower that had rolled over. Autopsy examination revealed congestion and petechial haemorrhages of the face and chest, and markings on the chest associated with underlying rib fractures. (2) A 78-year-old man was trapped under a ride-on mower that had also rolled over. Autopsy examination revealed petechial haemorrhages of the face and chest and markings on the chest. (3) A 72-year-old man was found wedged between a ride-on mower and a tree, with petechial haemorrhages of the face and chest, and markings on the front and back of the chest. These cases demonstrate a rare cause of crush asphyxia, often in older males in the domestic environment, which may arise from more than one mechanism.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.