Suicide attempts involving power drills

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was found dead next to a power drill soiled with blood and bone dust. A 5 mm circular wound of the forehead corresponded to the size of the drill bit. Subarachnoid haemorrhage was present over the anterior pole of the left frontal lobe with a penetrating injury extending 75 mm into the frontal lobe white matter towards, but not involving, the basal ganglia. No major intracranial vessels had been injured and there was no significant intraparenchymal haemorrhage. Death was due to haemorrhage from self-inflicted stab wounds to the abdomen with an associated penetrating intracranial wound from a power drill. Deaths due to power drills are rare and are either accidents or suicides. Wounds caused by power drills may be mistaken for bullet entrance wounds, and the marks around a wound from the drill chuck as muzzle imprints. A lack of internal bevelling helps to distinguish the entrance wound from that due to a projectile. Significant penetration of the brain may occur without lethal injury.