University student, 18, died after ‘downing’ bottle of vodka at sports social

Alfie Head went into cardiac arrest after the heavy drinking session – FACEBOOK

An 18-year-old student died of alcohol poisoning after he drank a full bottle of vodka at a sports team social, an inquest has heard.

Alfie John Head, 18, died from a hypoxic brain injury as a direct consequence of aspiration pneumonia, which was caused by acute alcohol toxicity, the inquest in Lincoln found.

The teenager, a promising goalkeeper for the University of Lincoln lacrosse team, was found collapsed at his student accommodation on Nov 9, just two months after beginning his studies.

He died on Nov 14, 2023 at Lincoln County Hospital, where he was being treated in the intensive care unit.

At the inquest on Wednesday, Jayne Wilkes, the area coroner for Lincolnshire, read out a statement from Pc Thomas Jacobs of Lincolnshire Police.

PC Jacobs said that he was asked to attend Cygnet Wharf student accommodation in Lincoln just after midnight on Nov 9, with reports that a student was in cardiac arrest.

Paramedics treated teenager 

Several paramedics were already treating Mr Head, and Pc Jacobs spoke to one of his friends, who said they had been drinking alcohol earlier in the night as part of a Lacrosse Society social event.

The friend explained that there was a bottle of vodka at “pre-drinks” and Mr Head had “just downed it”. He added that he was “amazed” that he had drunk the bottle.

The teenager collapsed on the way home to Cygnet Wharf and his friends helped him get back to his room, but he “went really bad, really quickly”.

When the paramedics arrived at the student accommodation just after midnight, they found him in cardiac arrest.

A family statement read to the inquest described Mr Head as “very much loved, at home and at uni”. It said that he was “soon to become an uncle”, was a passionate gamer and supporter of Arsenal FC, and was “our little boy with a very bright future ahead of him”.

The family, from Hertford, added that he “always had a smile on his face”.

‘So proud’ to be on lacrosse team

The inquest heard Mr Head joined the Lacrosse Society at university having never played the sport before and he was “so proud” to be on the team.

Ms Wilkes thanked the family for their support of the inquest and expressed her sympathy for “a loss in such tragic circumstances”.

Last November, Mr Head’s father Mark, 54, posted on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that Clair and I have to say Alfie passed away peacefully today. He was the happiest we’ve ever seen him at Lincoln University and was having the time of his life.

“Getting a phone call at 1.30am saying your son was critically ill in ICU is the hardest thing a parent will ever receive.

“He fought bravely but the odds were stacked against him. Sleep well son and we will meet again.”

A spokesman for the Lacrosse Society said: “We are extremely heartbroken by the passing of our member, Alfie. He was the life and soul and a highly valued member of our team, serving as our promising new goalkeeper.

“He was extremely loved and will be missed greatly.”

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