Fatalities related to extreme aerial sports

Abstract

Extreme aerial sports are a large subgroup of extreme sports. Participation in these activities has grown exponentially in the last decades, often surpassing traditional sports. Although fatalities related to extreme aerial sports are often generically ascribed to polytrauma, an autopsy can reveal unexpected elements in many cases. Forensic studies may lead us to ascertain different causes of death, such as anaphylaxis or myocardial infarction and together with eyewitness reports, they may make it possible to clarify the chain of events that led to an accident. This review paper may be critical not only for medico-legal reasons but also to provide useful information for the development of preventive measures, specific recommendations and safety systems. The paper aims to review available data about fatality rates, causes and dynamics in extreme aerial sports and to draw some possible conclusions about the role of forensic examinations in these sports.