Dorm-mate’s 911 call failed to mention drugs, inquest into UVic student’s fatal overdose death hears

The tragic events surrounding the fatal fentanyl overdose of University of Victoria student Sidney McIntyre-Starko were highlighted during the second day of the coroner’s inquest. The 911 call made by McIntyre-Starko’s dorm-mate, known only as “Student 2,” was played for the jury, shedding light on the harrowing experience.

On that fateful day, McIntyre-Starko, Student 2, and another female, “Student 3,” had ingested a dangerous mix of cocaine and fentanyl in a bathroom at UVic’s Sir Arthur Currie student residence. Shortly after taking the drugs, both McIntyre-Starko and Student 3 experienced seizures and began turning blue, prompting Student 2 to call for help.

The 911 call lasted nearly 16 minutes, with Student 2 initially struggling to provide the exact location of the dormitory. As the call progressed, the severity of the situation became apparent, with Student 2 revealing that her friends were unconscious and experiencing seizures. However, she failed to disclose to the 911 operator that they had taken drugs out of fear of getting into trouble.

Despite assurances that McIntyre-Starko and Student 3 were breathing, the situation quickly escalated. The campus security officer who took over the call acknowledged the likelihood of drug consumption and administered Narcan to the victims. Tragically, McIntyre-Starko did not respond to the treatment, and the call ended when first responders arrived on the scene.

During the inquest, Student 2 expressed regret for not disclosing the drug use earlier and acknowledged that she should have acted differently. Student 3, who was revived with Narcan, and Student 2 initially refused hospitalization but later called for an ambulance.

The testimony of UVic student witnesses Amirah Ali and Kyra Herriott raised questions about a report commissioned by the university, which claimed there was a crowd of onlookers hindering access to the victims. However, Ali and Herriott disputed this account, stating that there were no onlookers present.

The inquest is ongoing, with further testimonies scheduled for the coming days. While coroner’s inquests do not assign blame, they aim to uncover the circumstances surrounding a death and make recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

As the proceedings continue, the hope is that lessons will be learned from this heartbreaking event, ultimately leading to a safer environment for all students.