TY - JOUR PY - 1981// TI - High free fall with survival JO - Journal of trauma A1 - Kelly, E. G. A1 - Villella, E. R. A1 - Layton, T. R. SP - 983 EP - 985 VL - 21 IS - 11 N2 - A free fall, the unimpeded drop of a body from a known point to a known impaction point, is common in modern society. Death usually results when distance is more than six stories. The following case report describes the circumstances which allowed a young man attempting suicide to survive a 17-storey free fall. Although his impact velocity was estimated to be 72 m.p.h. (uncorrected for air drag), he impacted in a supine position on an automobile trunk lid so that some of the force was dissipated by tires and shock absorbers. Multiple fractures and soft-tissue injuries and a subsequent stress ulcer were successfully treated and the patient has a satisfactory level of physical activity while remaining under psychiatric care 1 year postinjury. LA - SN - 0022-5282 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -