A YOUNG man who collapsed outside a nightclub on New Year’s Eve died of sudden adult death syndrome, an inquest has found.
Daniel Meehan (20), Primrose Hill, Celbridge, Co Kildare, had been queuing with friends outside Zinc nightclub in Leixlip when he collapsed and died.
County coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty ruled he had died of natural causes with the syndrome as the diagnosis. He said there were no “outside influences” in his death.
Three friends of Mr Meehan, Seán Doyle, Glen Mahon and Eoin McCabe, earlier told the coroner how they had spent the evening.
Mr Doyle said they had been drinking rum and Coke in his house and having a laugh before going to Maynooth. They had wanted to get into the Mantra nightclub, but did not have tickets. After trying a couple of other pubs, they took a taxi to Leixlip and joined the queue for Zinc.
They were queuing for 10 minutes when Mr Meehan asked Mr Mahon for a lighter. He put his hand out for it, but then collapsed.
Mr Mahon said he was holding his friend’s hand while they waited for the ambulance, but it was limp and his eyes were open. He said his friend gasped before death.
Pathologist Dr Muna Sabah told the coroner the amount of alcohol in Mr Mahon’s blood was not significant and there were no drugs.
