A California teenager studying law in London died after experiencing a fatal heart rhythm while taking Tirzepatide, a popular weight loss medication, an inquest has determined.
Josephine Nasr, 19, was found dead in her dormitory room at the University of East London in September 2025. An inquest held in London on August 3 concluded that her death was linked to the drug, which had been prescribed by her doctor in California.
An empty vial of Tirzepatide was discovered in Nasr's room after university staff conducted a welfare check. Nasr, a second-year law student, had returned to London the week prior to her death from her home in Southern California. She had spoken to her family on the evening of her death and reported feeling nauseous and vomiting.
Her sister became concerned about potential dehydration and attempted to arrange for IV fluids. After being unable to reach Nasr directly, she contacted university security to request a welfare check. By the time a nurse arrived, security staff had entered Nasr's room and found her unresponsive on the bathroom floor. Emergency services were called, but Nasr was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators found an empty vial of Tirzepatide in her room. The inquest was told that Nasr had a body mass index classified as overweight, but not obese. She had been prescribed the medication during the summer of 2025.
Tirzepatide's known side effects include nausea and vomiting. A post-mortem examination revealed that Nasr had a congenital heart condition called myocardial bridging, which could have contributed to the fatal arrhythmia. Pathologists also noted that the vomiting induced by Tirzepatide can lead to hypoglycemia, or a drop in blood sugar, which can cause electrolyte imbalances that may trigger arrhythmias. Nasr's underlying heart condition may have worsened this imbalance.
Coroner Graeme Irvine delivered a narrative conclusion, stating that the death was likely caused by a cardiac arrhythmia resulting from myocardial bridging and an electrolyte imbalance. This imbalance was, in turn, attributed to hypoglycemia brought on by the prescribed Tirzepatide. The coroner noted that Nasr was otherwise a healthy young woman.
Nasr's family, who were at Los Angeles International Airport preparing for a trip to Egypt when notified of her death, described her as joyful, helpful, and committed to her faith. Her father traveled to London to identify her body and arrange for its repatriation. The university has since reviewed its policies regarding student welfare checks. The coroner expressed his condolences, acknowledging the tragedy of her death occurring so far from her family.