Saltwater Drowning Named Cause of Death for Morgan and Tillman

Results of the autopsies for Robert Morgan and Jeffrey Tillman, two offshore racers who flipped their 46-foot catamaran on Nov. 9, 2012, during the Super Boat International Key West Offshore World Championship list “saltwater drowning” as the primary cause of death for both racers. The catamaran flipped at more than 130 mph on the opening day of racing during the annual event.

The reports from both autopsies, which were conducted by Dr. Hunt Scheuerman, the medical examiner for Monroe County, Fla., contradict widespread speculation and rumors that both men died from blunt force trauma injuries sustained during the crash when the catamaran’s canopy was partially crushed.

While no contributory factors for cause of death were listed in Tillman’s autopsy, Morgan’s autopsy listed “multiple blunt force wounds” as contributory factors in his cause of death, including a fractured sternum, multiple fractured ribs and a fractured vertebra.