W70: Drowning and submersion following fall into natural water

Drowning and submersion following a fall into natural water refers to a specific group of incidents that lead to accidental water-based injuries. Typically, these events involve an individual inadvertently falling into a body of natural water, such as a lake, river or ocean, and subsequently experiencing difficulty in resurfacing or maintaining their breath. Key symptoms can include difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, fatigue, and in drastic situations loss of consciousness. This unfortunate event often triggers a sequence of physiological responses primarily involving the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Initially, there might be breath-holding followed by water inhalation, leading to respiratory distress or failure. Additionally, the person might experience, a sudden drop in body temperature, which could further complicate the situation. While such incidents can occur with individuals of all ages, they are more frequent among children and persons who cannot swim.