I've seen positional asphyxia suggested as the Somerton Man's cause of death before, and I've never been quite sure how that would work. The other cases of positional asphyxia I've seen have been deaths like Kendrick Johnson's, where the person was somehow physically restrained and unable to move into a position which would allow them to breathe properly.
But since breathing is an autonomic function, wouldn't the Somerton Man have automatically changed position so that he wouldn't suffocate? How does positional asphyxia occur when the person isn't restrained?
glittercheese:
If the person has decreased consciousness, like from substance, this can also happen. Basically the part of the brain that would normally cause you to change positions is depressed and therefore doesn’t function properly.
But since breathing is an autonomic function, wouldn't the Somerton Man have automatically changed position so that he wouldn't suffocate? How does positional asphyxia occur when the person isn't restrained?
glittercheese:
If the person has decreased consciousness, like from substance, this can also happen. Basically the part of the brain that would normally cause you to change positions is depressed and therefore doesn’t function properly.