Cause of Death

On the August 22nd, 2015 a Hawker Hunter jet fell from the sky during the Shoreham Airshow and crashed into the A27. The pilot survived, but on the road outside the airfield 11 men were killed. Forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd explores the complex investigation that went into discovering who the victims were, and how they died. Inside the mortuary, more than 1,250 separate remains are examined one by one. DNA and dental records help restore names to the dead. But identification is only the beginning. Investigators must distinguish the devastating effects of impact, fire and fragmentation to establish an individual cause of death for each victim. As an air accident investigation, criminal trial and inquest unfold, the families seek the truth about how the crash was able to happen. Exec Prods: Zoe Callan/Anna Hall; Dir: Lee Chapman; Candour Productions (S4 Ep5)