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The sudden death of 19-year-old California law student Josephine Nasr in her London dormitory has been linked by an East London coroner to the prescribed weight-loss drug Tirzepatide, according to an inquest reported by outlets including the Daily Mail and The Times. Nasr, a second-year student studying abroad at the University of East London, was found dead on September 23, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia.
Inquest Findings and Cause of Death
Coroner Graeme Irvine concluded that Nasr died of a cardiac arrhythmia triggered by a combination of a congenital heart condition and a severe electrolyte imbalance, according to reports from the Daily Mail. Pathologist Alan Bates found that Nasr had a heart condition known as myocardial bridging, which can cause abnormal heart rhythms. The inquest heard that Tirzepatide—marketed under brand names such as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight management—had been prescribed to Nasr by a doctor in California. An empty vial of the medication was discovered in her dorm room by university staff.
Evidence presented at the hearing indicated that Nasr had a body mass index classifying her as overweight rather than obese, according to The Telegraph. Leading up to her death, she had experienced vomiting and nausea, common side effects of the medication as noted by the Mayo Clinic. According to the inquest testimony cited by the Daily Mail, the vomiting led to hypoglycemia and a subsequent electrolyte imbalance, which placed acute physiological stress on her heart and worsened her underlying myocardial bridging, culminating in the fatal cardiac event.
Timeline of Events at the University of East London
On the evening of September 23, 2025, Nasr contacted her family in the United States—her father George Nasr, mother Lorin Mansour, and sister Anastasia Nasr—stating that she felt nauseous and had been vomiting around 8:30 p.m., according to the Daily Mail. Concerned about potential dehydration, her sister Anastasia arranged for a private healthcare provider to supply IV fluids. When Nasr subsequently stopped answering her phone, Anastasia contacted university officials to request a welfare check. Security personnel and a campus nurse entered the room and discovered Nasr on the bathroom floor. A London Ambulance Service paramedic pronounced her dead at the scene.
Medical Context of Tirzepatide and Side Effects
Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. While prescribed globally for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, medications in this class carry well-documented gastrointestinal side effects, including severe nausea and vomiting.
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