Experimental water injection into lungs using an animal model: Verification of the diatom concentration test to diagnose drowning

•As a result of the diatom test, the L/W ratio can be calculated.•The L/W ratio increases with multiple water injections and exceed one.•The L/W ratio dose not increase with postmortem immersion and not exceed one.•In drowning, diatoms accumulate in the lungs due to respiratory movements.•Calculating the L/W ratio is useful for diagnosing drowning.