6533b838fe1ef96bd12a5241

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Fatal attack on a pedestrian by an escaped circus elephant

Clara-sophie SchwarzAstrid KrauskopfS. HeinzeA. Heger

subject

MaleThoraxElephantsAutopsy01 natural sciencesPathology and Forensic Medicine03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineBluntExsanguinationGermanySpinal fracturemedicineAnimalsHumansHumerus030216 legal & forensic medicineMultiple Traumabusiness.industry010401 analytical chemistryAnatomyMiddle AgedSpinal cordmedicine.disease0104 chemical sciencesAggressionmedicine.anatomical_structureFemalebusinessLawMultiple lacerationsAbdominal vessels

description

Abstract We report the case of a 65-year-old man who was attacked and killed by a female elephant that had previously escaped from a nearby circus. According to a witness the man was lifted up by the tusks, flung into the air and stomped upon. At autopsy the body showed signs of severe blunt force trauma and impalement, including multiple lacerations of the skin, a crushed thorax, a spinal fracture and a fractured humerus. The spinal cord and the major abdominal vessels were severed. There have been very few elephant attacks in Europe; this is the first reported case in Germany.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2019-07-01Forensic Science International
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.027