Skip to main content

Spain. This middle-aged woman with major depressive disorder committed suicide by train. No further info.

Suicide by collision with a train is one of the most lethal and violent methods of death. The first case of rail suicide was recorded in England in 1852, approximately 20 years after the commencement of the rail era. Today, suicide by collision with a train is a relatively rare method, accounting for 1–12% of all suicides internationally, but highly lethal, with up to 94% of attempts resulting in death. Rail suicide is often a public event witnessed not only by train drivers but also by onlookers on platforms and train passengers. Therefore, in addition to the psychological effect on family and friends of the deceased, traumatic consequences are experienced by railway staff and passengers. Financial and organizational costs to the railway system, including delays in services and driver absenteeism, are also directly connected with suicide incidents. In summary, ‘the costs of railway suicide are enormous in terms of human lives lost, driver and bystander trauma, and delays to the service’.

Fig.1 The state in which the woman’s body was found.

Fig.2 The state in which the woman’s head was found.

Latest posts

Fig.18 Civilians who wanted to evacuate from the Kyiv region were shot down and burned.

The war in Ukraine

| Animal Scavenging, Decomposition, Explosion, Fire, Gunshot, Hanging, Homicide | No Comments
! Child death warning ! The Russia-Ukraine war, now entering its fourth year as of April 2025, has…
Fig.1 Dismembered torso.

Dismembered torso

| Homicide | No Comments
Dismembered torso in a homicide case. The severed neck of a dismembered torso must be inspected carefully for…
Fig.1 Bullet graze wound.

Bullet graze wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
This photo shows the effect of a bullet that has grazed the scalp. A bullet graze wound occurs…
Fig.1 Postmortem animal interference.

Postmortem animal interference

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
This individual died and his body was scavenged by a cat, no further info. The phenomenon of postmortem…