UPDATED: Dalhousie student dies of medical emergency in residence building

HALIFAX – An autopsy of a 19-year-old woman found dead at a Dalhousie residence building is, “not immediately obvious” according to the Medical Examiner’s office, and more testing will be required.

Halifax Regional Police were called to the Dalhousie student residence early Friday morning.

Police arrived at 1246 LeMarchant Street just before 3:30 a.m. to assist paramedics with a medical-related emergency. The student was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Our thoughts go to the friends and family of the student and to the student community,” university spokesperson Janet Bryson told media Friday morning.

She would not provide details about the student or comment on who found the young woman. She also would not elaborate on the medical circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

Police say there is no evidence to suggest foul play, but officers with the Forensic Identification Section were called to the scene, along with members of the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Investigators were seen taking several bags of evidence from the residence hall.

Student Georgina Lacina lives inside the residence hall. She calls the death shocking.

“It’s very sad to hear. It’s sad to hear when a student passes away,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's very sad to hear. It's sad to hear when a student passes away," she said.

Lacina describes the student residence as fairly quiet.

“It depends what floor she was on and depends if there was likely to be a party there or not. They do have quite strict times when you can have a lot of noise in the dormitory. They do have a lot of policies about alcohol in the dorm,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It depends what floor she was on and depends if there was likely to be a party there or not. They do have quite strict times when you can have a lot of noise in the dormitory. They do have a lot of policies about alcohol in the dorm," she said.

Police say the woman has been identified, and her family has been notified of her death. Her name has not been released.

Police have released the scene where the woman was found, but say the investigation is ongoing.

Dalhousie University spokesperson Janet Bryson says counseling services are being made available to students today and through the weekend.

“We’ve had psychologists on site today here at the residence to speak to anybody who wishes to speak with them,” she said.

University president Richard Florizone says students seeking counseling should contact Counselling Services on the second floor of LeMarchant Place.