A talented A* student tragically died after mixing ketamine and alcohol on her first night out at university, an inquest has heard.
Jeni Larmour had arrived at Newcastle University to study urban planning and architecture the day before she passed away aged 18 on October 3, 2020.
Newcastle Coroner’s Court was told how the former deputy head girl at the Royal Armagh Grammar School, from Newtonhamilton, Northern Ireland had been drinking with her new flatmates the night before she was found dead.
Pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper said police informed him of the circumstances of her death before he carried out a post-mortem, with emergency services finding her lifeless after attending her student accommodation around 5.30am.
Dr Cooper said: "She had arrived in Newcastle from Northern Ireland the previous day, she had been with other occupants of her flat on that evening, alcohol had been consumed and there were indications that other substances may have been taken as well."
He said tests revealed she had 1.3mg of ketamine per litre of blood - a level below what would usually be considered fatal.
A toxicology report also showed she had a blood alcohol level of 197mg per 100ml of blood, around two and a half times over the legal driving limit.
Dr Cooper stated that two together are likely to have severely depressed her nervous system, and he recorded her death as “the effects of a combination of alcohol and ketamine”.
Paying tribute to her daughter earlier, her mum Sandra Lamour said she had excelled at school thanks to her “huge personality, confidence and humour”.
A trained classical singer and leader with the Northern Irish school’s cadet force, the A* student was popular with pupils, teachers and parents, she said.
Mrs Larmour also revealed their daughter raised funds for a school trip to India, and had chosen her architecture and planning degree after the moving experience of seeing the New Delhi slums.
Her mother said: “Jeni’s bag was always packed and I am proud she had a varied experience of life in her limited years.”
“Her death has left a huge void that will never be filled. It is a huge loss to me, her father David, brother Daniel and our extended family.
“I also believe it is a huge loss to Newcastle University and the planning world she would have joined.”
Her family is represented at the inquest, as well as the university and student Kavir Kalliecharan, 19, from Leeds, who faced drugs charges following her death.
