X92: Assault by drowning and submersion

Assault by drowning and submersion is a range of life-threatening incidents where someone intentionally causes another person to suffocate from water entering the lungs, preventing normal breathing. This can occur in various settings, such as bathtubs, pools, or open water. When somebody is submerged in water, the body’s instinct to breathe leads to inhalation of water instead of air, restricting the amount of oxygen reaching essential organs. The severity of the condition often depends on how long the victim was submerged and deprived of oxygen. Immediate symptoms can include coughing, vomiting, confusion, and unconsciousness. If resuscitative efforts are not immediately successful, the condition can rapidly progress to brain injury, coma, or even death. Long-term complications may arise in the form of neurological damage if oxygen deprivation lasts long enough. This group of conditions primarily impacts the respiratory and neurological systems.