Trinity student died after a drug overdose, coroner finds

The student had been taking medication to curb his anxiety, and had ingested ‘potentially fatal quantities of Xanax in his blood’

by Fergal Jeffreys

This article is 4 years old

Friday January 21 2022, 2:39am

Content note: Mention of overdosing

A Trinity student died after taking an overdose of alprazolam - also known as Xanax – a coroner heard on Tuesday (18/01).

Keshava Iyengar, a second-year natural scientist at Trinity ingested “potentially fatal quantities of Xanax in his blood”, a pathologist told the hearing. The coroner concluded the student’s death was “drug-related”.

The student had been taking anti-anxiety medication, the coroner was told, following a recent parking incident which involved the police. Iyengar had also experienced a “tough time with his studies”.

The coroner concluded that there was evidence that he had not intended to take his own life. He said Iyengar had taken Xanax for “high anxiety levels” but was “not reckless”.

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Fellow student Harry Whelan described his friend to the inquest as a “glue guy who brought a lot of people together” and “one of the best social butterflies” .

“He was a very positive influence; a really valued friend to a lot of people,” the hearing was told.”

Trinity College told Varsity: “It was with great sadness that the Trinity community came together at the time of his death to pay tribute to Kesh Iyengar, a talented and popular student who was studying Natural Sciences.

The College’s thoughts have been with his family and friends through this difficult time and we continue to provide support to those members of College understandably affected by his death.”

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