In water- do dead people float?

Question

When people like drown in water, do their bodies float to the surface or sink to the bottom?

Answer 1

Date: Wed Jul 28 14:40:42 1999
Posted By: MARC E KEEN MD, M.D., PATHOLOGY, MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 932746558.Me
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Message:


At first they sink because the density of the body is more than water.
Depending on the temperature, gas will form in the intestines from
bacteria. This will cause the body to float.

Answer 2

I think they float for awhile, but as their lungs fill up with water i think they sink.

Cause all of those underwater rescue people drag the bottom for bodies. Yuck. I could never do that job.

Answer 3

Generally they float. This is due to the fact that internal bacteria start decomposing and produce gases which make the body less dense.

Answer 4

They float (unless they were deliberately weighed down). Living people can float to if the relax enough.

Answer 5

Fat dead people will float because of their lower density. Skinny and muscular dead people will sink because of their higher density, but when their bodies begin to decompose underwater, internal gas will be produced which will inflate them somewhat, and thus lower their density and cause their bodies to float.

Answer 6

It floats because dead peoples body are relaxed

Answer 7

If you relax, you are able to float..