ENDOMYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS IN A SCUBA DIVING DEATH

A death of an amateur SCUBA diver with undiagnosed late phase endomyoc ardial fibrosis is reported. This 27-year-old man found himself in dif ficulties during a Sub-Aqua Club outing and drowned. Autopsy revealed features of drowning in addition to severe endomyocardial fibrosis (EM F) with collagenization of the left ventricle and interventricular sep tum with foci of chronic myocarditis. Other organs were essentially no rmal and toxicological studies were negative. Examination of the air t ank revealed a normal oxygen circulation with elevation of the carbon dioxide content above recommended limits. Sudden ventricular arrhythmi a underwater due to EMF is believed to have precipitated drowning. Str icter medical monitoring of amateur divers should prevent similar acci dents in the future.