dry drowning

Dry drowning occurs when a person's lungs become unable to extract oxygen from the air, due primarily to:

• Muscular paralysis
• Puncture wound to the torso (affecting ability of diaphragm to create respiratory movement)
• Changes to the oxygen-absorbing tissues
• Persistence of laryngospasm when immersed in fluid
• Prolonged exposure to a gas that displaces oxygen from the lungs (e.g. methane)
• Overdose of solute free water which leads to hyponatremia and swelling in the brain
• Holding one's breath (Apnea)