Surviver of Suicidal Fall from the Bosphorus Bridge

Here, we attempted to explain the better-than-expected clinically stable condition of a patient who jumped from the Bosphorus Bridge, and to disclose the underlying causes. A 33-year-old male patient was admitted to our emergency department by the 112 emergency service following a jump from a height. He had attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Bosphorus Bridge. Except for the patient’s blood pressure (90/50 mmHg), the other vital signs were normal. A computed tomography (CT) of the thorax showed minimal pneumothorax on the left side. The thoracic vertebra CT showed stable compression fractures with no spinal canal compression between T3 and T8 vertebrae. Abdominal CT scan revealed a minimal subcapsular hematoma (grade 1) in the middle zone of the left kidney. He was admitted to the intensive care unit for follow-up. With a clinically stable progress, he was transferred to the neurosurgery unit 24 hours later. He was followed for four days in the neurosurgery clinic, then was discharged with recommendations of bed rest and outpatient clinic control. Among causes affecting mortality and morbidity in falls from heights, the patient’s age, dynamics of the fall, the hardness of the ground, falling position, and falling height are substantial factors.