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Boris Alekseevich Vozrojdenniy (Возрожденный Борис Алексеевич)
The Dyatlov Pass Incident, occurring in February 1959 in the Ural Mountains of the Soviet Union, resulted in the deaths of nine experienced hikers: Igor Dyatlov, Yuri Doroshenko, Zinaida Kolmogorova, Alexander Kolevatov, Georgiy Krivonischenko, Rustem Slobodin, Nicolai Thibeaux-Brignolle, Semyon Zolotaryov, and Lyudmila Dubinina. The medical autopsies, conducted in March and May 1959 by Soviet forensic pathologists, primarily Boris Vozrozhdenny and Ivan Laptev, provide critical insights into the causes of death and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the incident.
The autopsies were performed in Ivdel, Sverdlovsk Oblast, under
challenging conditions due to the remote location and the bodies’
exposure to harsh weather for weeks or months. The bodies were
discovered in two phases: five in February–March 1959 (Doroshenko,
Krivonischenko, Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, Slobodin) and four in May 1959
(Kolevatov, Thibeaux-Brignolle, Zolotaryov, Dubinina). The
examinations aimed to determine the cause of death, identify
injuries, and assess environmental factors. Key details include:
Pathologists: Boris Vozrozhdenny, a forensic expert, led most
autopsies, assisted by Ivan Laptev and local medical staff. Their
work adhered to Soviet forensic standards but was limited by 1950s
technology.
Conditions: Bodies were frozen or partially
decomposed, complicating analysis. The May discoveries, in a ravine
stream, showed significant post-mortem changes.
Documentation:
Autopsy reports, translated and archived by the Dyatlov Foundation,
include detailed descriptions of external and internal findings,
though some inconsistencies and omissions exist due to the era’s
practices.
Context: The autopsies were conducted under pressure
from Soviet authorities, with speculation of censorship or withheld
findings, though no evidence confirms this.
The autopsies
revealed a mix of hypothermia-related deaths and severe traumatic
injuries, with anomalies like radiation traces and missing body
parts fueling speculation. Below are the findings for each victim,
grouped by discovery phase, followed by analysis.
Yuri Doroshenko (Found February 26, 1959)
Location: Under a cedar
tree, 1.5 km from the tent, near a small fire, with Georgiy
Krivonischenko.
External Findings:
Clothing: Vest,
short-sleeved shirt, shorts, one sock; no shoes or outer layers,
consistent with paradoxical undressing (a hypothermia symptom where
victims remove clothing due to a false sense of warmth).
Position:
Lying on his back, head toward the tent, legs toward the cedar tree.
Injuries: Abrasions on the face, hands, and legs; burns on the right
foot and ankle; singed hair on the right side of the head. Grayish foam
around the mouth, indicating pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs, common
in hypothermia).
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death:
Hypothermia, confirmed by pulmonary edema and minimal internal trauma.
Organs: Congested lungs, heart filled with dark blood, typical of cold
exposure. No significant internal injuries.
Other: Minor hemorrhages
in the stomach mucosa, possibly from stress or cold.
Notable
Details:
Burns likely resulted from contact with the fire, suggesting
disorientation or desperation to stay warm.
Abrasions indicate
scraping against branches or snow during a struggle to survive.
Broken cedar branches at 5 meters suggest he climbed the tree, possibly
for wood or to spot the tent.
George (Yuri) Krivonischenko Autopsy
Georgiy Krivonischenko (Found February 26, 1959)
Location: Near
Doroshenko under the cedar tree, by the fire.
External Findings:
Clothing: Torn shirt, shorts, no shoes; signs of paradoxical undressing.
Position: Lying on his back, close to the fire.
Injuries: Burns on
the left leg (shin and foot) and left hand; singed hair; abrasions on
the face, hands, and legs. A bite mark on the right hand, with a piece
of skin missing, suggesting self-inflicted injury in hypothermic
distress. Grayish foam around the mouth.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death: Hypothermia, with pulmonary edema and congested organs.
Organs: Similar to Doroshenko, with dark blood in the heart and minor
stomach hemorrhages. No major internal trauma.
Notable Details:
Burns indicate proximity to the fire, likely accidental due to
disorientation.
The bite mark, described as self-inflicted, suggests
extreme pain or confusion, possibly from cold or burns.
Radiation
traces were later detected on his clothing (notably pants later worn by
Dubinina), linked to his work at the Chelyabinsk-40 nuclear facility.
Zinaida Kolmogorova (Found March 5, 1959)
Location: On the slope, 630
meters from the cedar tree, toward the tent.
External Findings:
Clothing: Jacket, pants, socks, multiple layers; no shoes, but better
dressed than others.
Position: Face-down, suggesting a crawl or
collapse while moving toward the tent.
Injuries: Abrasions on the
face and hands; a large, “baton-shaped” bruise (30 cm long) on the right
side of her torso, possibly from a fall or snow pressure. Minor swelling
around the eyes.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death:
Hypothermia, with pulmonary edema and organ congestion.
Organs: No
significant internal injuries, consistent with death by exposure.
Notable Details:
The bruise, described as linear and deep, has
fueled speculation about a blunt force or weapon, though likely from a
fall or snow compression.
Her position farthest from the cedar tree
suggests she survived longer, determinedly attempting to reach the tent.
Igor Dyatlov (Found March 5, 1959)
Location: On the slope, 400 meters
from the cedar tree, toward the tent.
External Findings:
Clothing: Shirt, pants, one shoe, socks; insufficient for -30°C, but
more clothed than the cedar tree group.
Position: Lying face-up, head
toward the tent, one arm around a birch tree, suggesting an attempt to
return.
Injuries: Minor abrasions on the face, hands, and legs;
bruises on the knuckles and forehead. Clenched fist, possibly from
cold-induced muscle contraction or struggle. Swelling around the lips
and nose.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death: Hypothermia, with
pulmonary edema and congested organs.
Organs: Heart filled with dark
blood, lungs congested, typical of prolonged cold exposure. No
significant internal injuries.
Notable Details:
His watch,
stopped at 5:31, may indicate the time of death or malfunction due to
cold.
Abrasions and bruises suggest falls or contact with snow/trees
during the return attempt.
His position and clothing indicate he
survived longer than the cedar tree group, fighting to reach the tent.
Rustem Slobodin (Found March 5, 1959)
Location: On the slope, 480
meters from the cedar tree, between Dyatlov and Kolmogorova.
External Findings:
Clothing: Jacket, pants, one boot, hat, gloves;
relatively well-dressed but insufficient for the cold.
Position:
Face-down, suggesting a collapse while moving toward the tent.
Injuries: A skull fracture (6 cm long, 0.1 cm separation), with swelling
and hemorrhaging around the eyes and face. Abrasions on the face, hands,
and legs; bruises on the knuckles, possibly from a fall or struggle.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death: Hypothermia, with the skull
fracture noted as non-fatal but potentially disorienting.
Organs:
Congested lungs and heart, typical of hypothermia. Minor internal
hemorrhages around the skull fracture.
Notable Details:
The
skull fracture, less severe than Thibeaux-Brignolle’s, suggests a fall
or impact, possibly during the escape or return attempt.
His single
boot and knuckle bruises indicate a struggle against the cold or
terrain.
His position suggests he was part of the group trying to
return to the tent.
Lyudmila Dubinina
Location: In the ravine, with Kolevatov,
Thibeaux-Brignolle, and Zolotaryov.
External Findings:
Clothing: Jacket, sweater, pants (including Krivonischenko’s, with
radiation traces); no shoes.
Position: Kneeling against a rock,
facing a stream, suggesting a final attempt to move or resist.
Injuries: Missing tongue, eyes, and part of the upper lip; fractured
orbital bones. Minor abrasions on the face and hands. The missing body
parts, initially shocking, are attributed to decomposition or predation,
as her body was in a stream.
Internal Findings:
Cause of
Death: Massive internal hemorrhaging from multiple rib fractures (six on
the left, four on the right), crushing the chest and heart.
Organs:
Collapsed lungs, heart damage, and extensive internal bleeding. Other
organs decomposed but congested.
Notable Details:
The rib
fractures, like Zolotaryov’s, suggest a high-impact force without
external wounds.
Radiation traces on Krivonischenko’s pants, worn by
Dubinina, link to his nuclear work or environmental factors.
The
missing tongue and eyes, likely due to water exposure and scavengers,
have fueled sensational theories (e.g., mutilation).
Semyon Zolotaryov
Location: In the ravine, with Kolevatov,
Thibeaux-Brignolle, and Dubinina.
External Findings:
Clothing:
Jacket, pants, boots, some belonging to others, indicating scavenging
for warmth. Camera around his neck, damaged and undeveloped.
Position: Face-down, partially covered by snow, near Kolevatov.
Injuries: Minor abrasions and cuts on the face and hands; no significant
external wounds.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death: Multiple
rib fractures (five on the right, two on the left), causing internal
hemorrhaging and lung damage.
Organs: Collapsed lungs and heart
damage from rib fractures. Other organs congested.
Notable
Details:
The rib fractures, described as high-impact (like a car
crash), lacked external bruising, suggesting a compressive force (e.g.,
snow or fall).
His camera, potentially containing critical photos,
was too damaged to yield evidence.
His survival longer than
Thibeaux-Brignolle, inferred from clothing, aligns with Kolevatov’s
condition.
Alexander Kolevatov
Location: In a ravine, 75 meters from the cedar
tree, with Thibeaux-Brignolle, Zolotaryov, and Dubinina.
External
Findings:
Clothing: Jacket, pants, multiple layers, some taken from
other hikers (e.g., Krivonischenko or Doroshenko), suggesting he
survived longer and sought warmth.
Position: Lying close to
Zolotaryov, possibly embracing him for warmth or support.
Injuries:
Minor abrasions on the hands and face; a twisted neck, likely from rigor
mortis or post-mortem positioning. No significant external trauma.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death: Hypothermia, with pulmonary
edema and organ congestion.
Organs: No major internal injuries,
unlike his ravine companions.
Notable Details:
His lack of
severe trauma is an anomaly in the ravine group, suggesting he avoided
the force that injured others.
His extra clothing and position
indicate he may have been among the last to die, possibly assisting
Zolotaryov.
His nuclear work at Chelyabinsk-40 may explain radiation
traces on nearby clothing.
Nikolay Thibeaux-Brignolle Autopsy
Nicolai Thibeaux-Brignolle
Location: In the ravine, with Kolevatov,
Zolotaryov, and Dubinina.
External Findings:
Clothing:
Sweater, pants, socks; no shoes but relatively well-dressed.
Position: Face-up, partially covered by snow.
Injuries: Minor
abrasions on the face and hands; no significant external wounds.
Internal Findings:
Cause of Death: Massive skull fracture (6x8 cm
depressed fracture at the skull base), causing fatal brain trauma and
hemorrhaging.
Organs: Severe brain damage, with blood in the cranial
cavity. Other organs showed congestion but no major trauma.
Notable Details:
The skull fracture, described as precise and
high-impact (akin to a car accident), lacked external wounds, suggesting
a focused force (e.g., snow compression or fall).
His watch, stopped
at 8:45, may indicate the time of death or malfunction.
The injury’s
severity suggests rapid incapacitation, unlike Kolevatov’s slower death.
The autopsies revealed a stark contrast between the hypothermia deaths
of the first five and the traumatic injuries of the ravine group, with
several anomalies:
Hypothermia vs. Trauma:
Cedar Tree Group
(Doroshenko, Krivonischenko): Hypothermia with minor injuries (burns,
abrasions, bite mark), consistent with prolonged exposure and
paradoxical undressing. Burns suggest fire contact in a disoriented
state.
Slope Group (Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, Slobodin): Hypothermia with
minor to moderate injuries (Slobodin’s skull fracture, Kolmogorova’s
bruise). Their positions indicate a coordinated attempt to return to the
tent.
Ravine Group (Kolevatov, Thibeaux-Brignolle, Zolotaryov,
Dubinina): Severe trauma (skull and rib fractures) for three, with
Kolevatov’s hypothermia death as an outlier. The injuries suggest a
high-impact, compressive force.
Radiation Traces:
Detected on
Krivonischenko’s and Dubinina’s clothing (the latter wearing
Krivonischenko’s pants), the radiation was low-level and likely linked
to Krivonischenko’s and Kolevatov’s work at Chelyabinsk-40 or
environmental contamination (e.g., the 1957 Kyshtym disaster). The 1959
investigation’s radiation tests were rudimentary, limiting conclusions.
No radiation was noted on other bodies or the environment, reducing the
likelihood of a radiological event.
Missing Body Parts:
Dubinina’s missing tongue, eyes, and lip, combined with fractured
orbitals, were initially interpreted as possible mutilation. Modern
forensic analysis attributes these to decomposition and predation (e.g.,
birds, small mammals), as her body was in a stream for three months.
Soft tissues in the mouth and face are vulnerable to such processes.
Orange Skin Tints:
Some bodies, particularly the first five,
showed orange or brownish skin discoloration, noted by rescuers and
pathologists. This is likely due to post-mortem changes, prolonged sun
exposure, or freezing, which can alter skin pigments. The effect was
exaggerated in early reports, fueling paranormal theories.
Injury
Precision:
The ravine group’s fractures (Thibeaux-Brignolle’s skull,
Zolotaryov/Dubinina’s ribs) lacked external wounds, suggesting a
compressive or shockwave-like force. This precision, likened to
high-speed impacts, is central to avalanche and military theories.
Slobodin’s skull fracture, less severe, and Kolmogorova’s bruise suggest
less intense but still significant trauma.
Stopped Watches:
Dyatlov’s watch (5:31) and Thibeaux-Brignolle’s (8:45) were stopped,
possibly indicating times of death or malfunction due to cold or damage.
Their significance is speculative, as mechanical watches are unreliable
in extreme conditions.
The autopsy findings are critical to evaluating theories about the
Dyatlov Pass Incident, each with varying degrees of alignment:
Avalanche Theory (Most Supported):
Alignment: Hypothermia deaths
align with exposure after fleeing the tent. The ravine group’s fractures
are consistent with a fall or snow compression, as modeled in a 2021
Nature study. Slobodin’s skull fracture and Kolmogorova’s bruise could
result from falls during escape. Paradoxical undressing explains the
cedar tree group’s state.
Challenges: Kolevatov’s lack of trauma is
an outlier, suggesting he avoided the ravine impact. The slope’s
15–20-degree angle and lack of debris in 1959 question avalanche
likelihood. Radiation and Dubinina’s missing parts require separate
explanations (nuclear work, decomposition).
Implication: The
autopsies support an avalanche as the trigger, with injuries from
subsequent falls or snow pressure, though the slope’s conditions remain
debated.
Military Involvement Theory:
Alignment: The ravine
group’s precise fractures, without external wounds, resemble blast or
shockwave injuries, as from a low-yield explosion or weapon test.
Radiation traces, linked to Krivonischenko’s clothing, suggest a
radiological event. Kolmogorova’s bruise and Slobodin’s fracture could
indicate secondary impacts.
Challenges: No shrapnel, burns, or
widespread radiation were found, typical of explosions. Radiation levels
were low and explainable by nuclear work. The group’s behavior (fleeing
without gear) is inconsistent with a direct military encounter.
Implication: The autopsies provide circumstantial support for a military
test, but lack of definitive evidence (e.g., declassified records)
limits its plausibility.
Infrasound-Induced Panic Theory:
Alignment: Hypothermia and paradoxical undressing explain the cedar tree
and slope deaths, with panic causing the tent evacuation. Minor injuries
(abrasions, bruises) align with a chaotic escape.
Challenges:
Infrasound doesn’t account for the ravine group’s severe fractures or
Slobodin’s skull injury, requiring a secondary physical event. Radiation
and missing body parts are unrelated.
Implication: The autopsies
support infrasound as a behavioral trigger but fail to explain the
traumatic injuries, making it a partial theory.
Foul Play Theory:
Alignment: The ravine fractures and Kolmogorova’s bruise could suggest
blunt force from an attack. Slobodin’s knuckle bruises and
Krivonischenko’s bite mark hint at struggle.
Challenges: No defensive
wounds, stab marks, or outsider evidence were found. The fractures’
internal nature and lack of external trauma contradict typical assault
injuries. Dubinina’s missing parts are better explained by
decomposition.
Implication: The autopsies provide weak support for
foul play, as the injuries and behavior align more with natural or
accidental causes.
Katabatic Wind Theory:
Alignment:
Hypothermia deaths and minor injuries (abrasions, bruises) align with a
wind-driven evacuation and exposure. The ravine group’s injuries could
result from falls.
Challenges: Katabatic winds don’t typically cause
precise, high-impact fractures without external wounds. Radiation and
anomalies are unrelated.
Implication: The autopsies partially support
winds as a trigger but struggle with the injury severity and other
evidence.
Paranormal/Extraterrestrial Theory:
Alignment:
Dubinina’s missing parts and radiation traces have been sensationalized
as evidence of mutilation or alien activity. Orange skin tints add
intrigue.
Challenges: Decomposition explains Dubinina’s condition,
and radiation links to nuclear work. Injuries are consistent with
physical trauma, not energy-based phenomena. No paranormal evidence was
noted.
Implication: The autopsies offer no credible support for
paranormal causes, with natural explanations prevailing.
Hypothermia and Paradoxical Undressing:
Alignment: The cedar tree
group’s hypothermia, burns, and minimal clothing strongly support
paradoxical undressing. Slope group deaths align with exposure.
Challenges: The ravine fractures and Slobodin’s skull injury require a
physical trigger. The initial evacuation and radiation are unexplained.
Implication: The autopsies confirm hypothermia’s role but require a
primary event (e.g., avalanche) to explain the full sequence.
The autopsies, while thorough for 1959, faced challenges:
Technology:
Limited forensic tools (no X-rays, basic radiation testing) restricted
injury analysis. Modern CT scans could clarify fracture patterns.
Decomposition: The ravine group’s three-month exposure caused tissue
loss, complicating precise injury assessment.
Soviet Context:
Potential pressure to avoid sensitive conclusions (e.g., military
involvement) may have influenced the “compelling natural force” verdict,
though no evidence confirms censorship.
Incomplete Data: Radiation
testing was selective, and some findings (e.g., exact radiation levels)
are ambiguous in surviving reports.