Priest died accidentally from alcohol toxicity: Coroner

Fr Lourdes Anthony Zaw Htun, 51, was found unresponsive and cold in the doorway of his bathroom on November 26, 2022.

Associate Coroner H Cheeseman found Fr Zaw Htun’s death was caused by alcohol toxicity in accidental circumstances. There was nothing in the evidence to suggest he intended to die or knew the amount of alcohol he consumed could cause his death.

Fr Zaw Htun, originally from Myanmar, was living in Hastings with two other priests. On the night before his death, a Friday, they had dinner and socialised with two priests visiting from Palmerston North.

Toxicology testing after the priest’s death found 293mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and 340mg per 100ml of vitreous humour. For comparison, the report said the legal blood-alcohol limit for a driver aged 20 or older was 50mg per 100ml.

Forensic pathologist Dr Amy Spark said it was likely Fr Zaw Htun’s blood-alcohol level had earlier been at least 340mg per 100ml or higher. She said alcohol levels above 300mg per 100ml could cause loss of consciousness, potentially leading to coma and death.

The associate coroner said there were no useful recommendations to make but repeated warnings about alcohol poisoning.

Someone who had passed out after drinking should not simply be left to “sleep it off”, the finding said, because their condition could deteriorate quickly.

The finding advised people to treat suspected alcohol poisoning as an emergency, not leave the person alone and call 111.

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Priest was found dead in doorway after drinking with colleagues (Stuff)