Recovering body parts

[thrive]

I'm diving in a private lake this weekend, and last weekend a woman lost her leg in a boating accident.

How long does it take for a body to float to the surface? This is a lake, so it's cold and it'll probably stay down longer.

Basically the only legs I want to come accross are still attached to a woman.

Any feedback?

 

[SneakyB'tard]

To become a “floater,” a body must to be in the water long enough for tissue decomposition from bacteria to begin. This process forms gas as a byproduct, which collects beneath the skin and in body cavities. Bodies tend to sink, then rise again in several days when the gas forms, adding buoyancy. They thus become "floaters."
Under these circumstances, the hands and feet swell (several days), the outer layer of skin separates from the underlying tissues (5-6 days), the skin of the hands and the nails separate (8-10 days), and entire body swells shortly thereafter. Tissues become extremely fragile and are easily damaged during removal from the water.
Timing of the “floating” depends upon several factors, including water temperature, currents, the size of the victim, and other variables. For example, a body will “float” after 8-10 days in warm water and 2-3 weeks if in colder water. Cold slows the process of decomposition

 

[John McClane]

If you come across any human remains -leave them in place. Mark the location so that Police Divers can recover the remains after an investigation has been conducted. It is a crime scene until released by the authorities.
While "SneakyB'tard" has described what some bodies may do - not all bodies will refloat depending on conditions. Sometimes a very deep and cold lake will not give up the body.
Some I have recovered have also been sufficiently stabbed to allow building up gases to escape and thus not refloat. Some have been given a new set of shoes (cement in a bucket is popular) and some get the sleeping bag wrapped in chains send off (usually a biker's first choice)
It is possible also to come across an old native grave site which has since been flooded over - likely they will not want their ancestors messed with.
If you do a search on "robert teather" you will come up with his book encyclopedia of underwater investigations - good reading.
have fun.

 

[Kayla]

... it seems to really depend on the person..... Two weeks ago, we pulled a guy out of the river that had been there for five weeks.... it totally depends on the size and shape of a person, and the water conditions surrounding the body... each case is individual.


Kayla