A former Carleton student’s cause of death has been identified as recent investigation results emerged.
After the investigation concluded, British forensic pathologist Amanda Jeffrey identified Garrett Elsey’s cause of death as “traumatic asphyxia,” according to an article in the Ottawa Citizen.
Elsey, a graduate of Carleton’s history and political science programs, died in Bristol, England as he was about to begin his postgraduate degree at the University of Bristol.
Elsey’s body was found late last summer at a recycling facility, only a day after he’d arrived in Bristol to start his master’s degree.
The previous night, Elsey had been drinking at a local pub with a friend, eventually becoming intoxicated. He was ordered to leave the nightclub by bouncers and got lost in the city.
Upon discovering his body, police said they believed Elsey had fallen asleep in a refuse bin that had been scheduled for early collection the morning after.
He was thought to have been crushed by the garbage truck without garbage collectors being aware of his presence.
“People suffering from hypothermia can often become very confused and make strange decisions (in which) they may seek refuge in confined spaces,” Jeffrey told the Ottawa Citizen.
Examinations of Elsey’s body showed high levels of alcohol in his blood, as well as early symptoms of hypothermia.
“It’s possible that the combination of alcohol and his body warmth led to an increased risk of hypothermia,” Jeffrey said.
