Can I try to get back to the main point. It doesn't really matter for the purpose of this discussion , what precise words the pathologist used.
His propositions were:
(1) The notion that stowaways in wheel-wells are frozen to death is a popular misconception; they die of hypoxia long before they freeze.
(2) Death is caused by the rate at which the aircraft reaches high altitude.
ie It's the speed of change which kills. The body can adjust to high altitude provided the change is gradual. The illustration he used was: "It was like shooting up from sea level to more than the height of Everest in just a few minutes."
The accuracy or otherwise of his assertions didn't matter for the purpose of the issues which had to be decided at the Inquest. I'm not qualified to comment upon his propositions, but I'm interested in the views of those who are.
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 16th Apr 2002 at 15:54.