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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: lorraine24 on Wednesday 29 July 09 15:24 BST (UK)

Title: a bit grizly
Post by: lorraine24 on Wednesday 29 July 09 15:24 BST (UK)

I found the death of my great grandfather who was found drowned in a river.  I also found a headline in evening chronicle stating 'Man's body found in River Tyne'.  part of the article described his height and what he was wearing and also the grizly fact that his left hand was missing.  He had lost his wife the year before to kidney failure.  He was reported missing one day a found the next.  The article stated that his body was in advanced decomposed.  Question I'm asking is would it be possible for one hand just to disappear through decomposition?  I dont know where to go to find out.

Thanks and sorry for gory details.

Lorraine

Title: Re: a bit grizly
Post by: Woody32 on Wednesday 29 July 09 15:28 BST (UK)

He could have lost his hand in many ways...Been Eaten,  boat propeller etc.

As to finding out you will probably never know unless you have a coroners report that says.

Title: Re: a bit grizly
Post by: lorraine24 on Wednesday 29 July 09 15:30 BST (UK)

thank you

I wasnt sure whether or not coroners report would state that.  he was found the following day.  It was a busy river even then.

Title: Re: a bit grizly
Post by: Gadget on Wednesday 29 July 09 15:31 BST (UK)

Hi


As woody says, you would really need a coroners report. However, if his body was in an advanced state of decomposition, it suggests that his body had been immersed for a while.

Here's one article which discusses the effects of immersion in water on the body:

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/forensicmedicine/notes/water.pdf

See paricularly page 10-13


Gadget

Title: Re: a bit grizly
Post by: Gadget on Wednesday 29 July 09 15:57 BST (UK)

Information on Coroner's Reports can be found here:

http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/pdf/userguide14.pdf

Page 7


Gadget