I spent the last three days at the Vancouver Island coroner’s inquest listening to harrowing details of how 19-year-old Abby Flynn died in her University of Victoria residence after consuming what she thought was cocaine, but contained lethal amounts of fentanyl.
Yesterday’s testimony from the 911 operator who took the emergency call revealed critical delays that have raised serious questions about emergency response protocols on campus. According to recordings played at the inquest, Flynn’s roommate called 911 at 10:42 p.m., reporting that her friend was unconscious and barely breathing.
“She kept asking if an ambulance was coming, but I had to follow our standard questioning protocol,” testified Sarah Winters, the E-Comm 911 operator who handled the call. “In hindsight, I wish I could have expedited the dispatch process.”
The inquest heard that paramedics weren’t dispatched until 10:51 p.m. – nine minutes after the initial call. By the time they arrived at 11:04 p.m., Flynn had been without adequate oxygen for over 20 minutes. She was pronounced dead three days later at Victoria General Hospital.
Dr. Martin Goldstein, toxicologist with the BC Coroners Service, testified that post-mortem analysis revealed Flynn had consumed what she believed was cocaine, but actually contained a lethal concentration of fentanyl. “The amount found in her system would have been dangerous even for someone with high opioid tolerance,” Dr. Goldstein explained. “For someone opioid-naïve like Ms. Flynn, it was catastrophic.”
The inquest heard that Flynn and two friends had purchased what they thought was cocaine from an off-campus dealer earlier that evening. Her friends also consumed the substance but in smaller amounts, experiencing severe symptoms but ultimately surviving.
Patricia Flynn, Abby’s mother, addressed the inquest with a statement that left many in tears. “Abby was a bright light who wanted to change the world. She made one mistake, and a broken system failed her when minutes mattered most.” She has become an advocate for improved emergency response protocols and harm reduction strategies on university campuses.
The inquiry revealed troubling gaps in campus emergency procedures. Campus security testified they weren’t notified of the medical emergency until paramedics were already en route, despite university protocols stating they should be contacted immediately in medical emergencies.
“Our security team carries naloxone kits and are often faster first responders than ambulances,” said Robert Chen, UVic’s Head of Campus Security. “If we had been notified immediately, we might have been able to administer naloxone sooner.”
E-Comm 911, British Columbia’s emergency communications provider, defended their protocols while acknowledging the tragedy. “Our operators follow established questioning procedures to ensure appropriate resources are dispatched,” said Dana Miller, E-Comm’s Operations Director. “We are reviewing this case to identify any potential improvements.”
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction reports that fentanyl-related deaths among university-aged adults have increased by 38% since 2019. In British Columbia alone, 74 people between the ages of 19-24 died from toxic drug poisonings in the first six months of 2023.
In response to Flynn’s death, UVic has expanded harm reduction programs, including making naloxone more widely available and implementing new “no questions asked” emergency response protocols. These changes align with recommendations from the BC Harm Reduction Strategies and Services committee, which has called for enhanced drug checking services and naloxone training on all post-secondary campuses.
Evan Thompson, Flynn’s roommate who made the fatal 911 call, testified about the confusion and panic during those critical moments. “I kept saying she wasn’t breathing right, but it felt like forever before they said help was coming,” Thompson said. “I didn’t know about naloxone then. I wish I had.”
The five-person inquest jury is expected to make recommendations tomorrow
