What Do You Think Of This Story

[sp1814]

I read about this yesterday, and even though experts say that a body can become mummified within a week in salty conditions...it just seems...wrong.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/mummified-german-sailor-manfred-fritz-bajorat-found-on-yacht-had-only-been-dead-for-a-week-autopsy-a6909371.html

(Note: graphic content in the link).

What do you think? Does it seem reasonable that a body can reach this state in a week?

[Gromit]

I assume in the middle of an ocean there are not many insects to help with decomposition.

[wolf63]

I am sure that there have been stories like that on CSI.

But, like you, it seems iffy.

[Prudie]

I think it's very weird, when it was first in the news earlier this week the assumption was he'd been dead for months and why hadn't he decomposed, now it's the other extreme. Very peculiar story.

[Mamyalynne]

From the photograph it certainly looks like he has been dead longer, most odd.

[Gromit]

Insects greatly aid the decomposing process. They are attracted to the smell of a cadavar, and they will eat the body. In the middle of an ocean, thousands of miles from land, there are no insects within range to detect the dead body and eat on it.

http://aboutforensics.co.uk/forensic-entomology/

The salt in the atmosphere preserves the uneaten carcass.

[sp1814]

Thanks Gromit...ya live and learn.

[david small]

That look would suit Blair....