It was an emotional day of testimony from Sidney McIntyre-Starko’s mother on the first day of the coroner’s inquest into the young woman’s death.
Dr. Caroline McIntyre was firm in her assertion that the overdose is not the reason for the coroner’s inquest, pointing to the actions in the minutes afterward as the crucial piece of the puzzle.
McIntyre-Starko, 18, was a student at the University of Victoria when she died in January 2024 of fentanyl poisoning.
She and her friend collapsed in a dorm room after taking drugs that were found in a box of coolers that a friend found on a street corner.
Get daily National news
McIntyre-Starko and one of her friends immediately fell unconscious and campus security responded.
However, 911 call takers missed the potential for an overdose, delaying CPR and the administration of naloxone.
An external review done by former Abbotsford police chief Bob Rich found significant errors made in the aftermath of the overdose. Changes have been made to 911 procedures and access to naloxone at university campuses.
The public inquest will determine the facts related to McIntyre-Starko’s death and make recommendations, where appropriate and supported by evidence, to prevent deaths in similar circumstances and to ensure the public that the person’s death will not be overlooked.
McIntyre says she is an incredibly private person and declined an on-camera interview. She said the changes are welcome but more needs to be done to prevent further deaths.
The coroner’s inquest is set to last three weeks, with 33 witnesses called.
- Inmate suffers bungled execution after firing squad misses target in South Carolina
- Teen shot, killed by Virginia homeowner while recording TikTok prank
- ‘Your truth, it changes’: World junior complainant grilled over alleged memory gaps
- ‘Policing in Nunavik is broken’: Inuit group wants change after latest fatal shooting
Comments