AN INQUEST has taken place into the death of Morgan Olphert – an 18-year-old man who tragically died suddenly on June 12, 2022, at his home address on Heol Ty Gwyn in Maesteg.
The hearing was conducted at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court to determine the cause of his death.
The inquest heard that the night before his death, Mr. Olphert had sourced and willingly taken a small amount of cocaine at a party. However, the specific amount of cocaine he took was not disclosed during the hearing. The following day, he collapsed at his home, and despite the efforts of emergency services, he was unable to be revived.
During the inquest, the coroner, Patricia Morgan, stated that Mr. Olphert’s sudden cardiac arrhythmia, which caused his death, was “largely unexplained.” While the presence of cocaine in Mr. Olphert’s system was identified, post-mortem tests could not confirm whether there was an underlying cardiac condition or not.
The coroner concluded that there was a possibility that cocaine had played a role in the development of Mr. Olphert’s sudden arrhythmia, which ultimately caused his heart to stop beating. However, due to the lack of evidence, it was not possible to confirm this for certain. There was also a possibility that there was an underlying cardiac condition that had not been identified at the time of his death.
In her narrative conclusion, the coroner recorded the medical cause of Mr. Olphert’s death as a sudden arrhythmic death in the setting of cocaine use, but noted that the cause remained largely unexplained despite thorough testing.
The sudden and unexpected death of Morgan Olphert was undoubtedly a tragedy for his family, friends, and loved ones. This case also highlights the dangers of drug use and the potential risks associated with the use of cocaine, which can cause serious health problems and even death.
