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Spain. This middle-aged woman with major depressive disorder committed suicide by train. No further info.

Suicide by collision with a train is one of the most lethal and violent methods of death. The first case of rail suicide was recorded in England in 1852, approximately 20 years after the commencement of the rail era. Today, suicide by collision with a train is a relatively rare method, accounting for 1–12% of all suicides internationally, but highly lethal, with up to 94% of attempts resulting in death. Rail suicide is often a public event witnessed not only by train drivers but also by onlookers on platforms and train passengers. Therefore, in addition to the psychological effect on family and friends of the deceased, traumatic consequences are experienced by railway staff and passengers. Financial and organizational costs to the railway system, including delays in services and driver absenteeism, are also directly connected with suicide incidents. In summary, ‘the costs of railway suicide are enormous in terms of human lives lost, driver and bystander trauma, and delays to the service’.

Fig.1 The state in which the woman’s body was found.

Fig.2 The state in which the woman’s head was found.

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