Calif. law student, 19, dies after taking popular weight loss shot — even though she wasn’t obese — as inquest reveals her mother’s devastating three-word reaction to the news
A 19-year-old California law student, Josephine Nasr, died after taking the popular weight-loss drug tirzepatide, with a U.K. inquest finding that the medication contributed to an electrolyte imbalance that played a role in her fatal cardiac arrhythmia.
The second-year law student from Corona, California, was found dead in her student accommodation at the University of East London on September 23, 2025.
The East London Coroner’s Court learned that Nasr had been prescribed tirzepatide by a doctor in the U.S. and was taking the medication when she died. An empty vial of the drug was found in her room.
Court evidence also noted that while Nasr’s BMI placed her in the overweight range she was not obese at the time of her death.
The family got the news while they were about to fly to Egypt and were at the Los Angeles International Airport.
Nasr’s sister, Anastasia, had become concerned after being unable to reach her and contacted campus security, asking someone to check on her.
The request eventually reached the staff, who went to Nasr’s accommodation. A nurse had also arrived at the property to administer IV fluids. After several knocks went unanswered, the staff used their key to enter the flat and found Nasr on the bathroom floor.
Her mother, Lorin Mansour, was later contacted and told of her daughter’s condition. She fainted after hearing the news and reportedly responded with the devastating words, “deceased means dead.”
They later issued statements, where her father, George, noted, “She was full of joy and always helped others before herself. She loved travelling and the ocean.”
Lorin added that her daughter was committed to goodness, continuing, “We are part of the Coptic Church, and the way Josephine was willing to help people showed that she lived her faith.”
Coroner Graeme Irvine concluded that the cardiac arrhythmia was caused by a combination of an undiagnosed congenital heart condition and an electrolyte imbalance brought on by the drug.
“This is a terrible tragedy and the fact that it happened to someone who was thousands of miles away from her family only made it worse,” he stated. “Please accept my sincerest condolences.”
Pathologist Alan Bates, who performed Nasr’s autopsy, told the inquest that she had myocardial bridging.
The condition occurs when part of a coronary artery runs through the heart muscle rather than over its surface. In some cases, it can contribute to abnormal or dangerous heart rhythms, particularly under stress.
The inquest into Nasr’s death concluded in early August 2026, nearly a year after she died.
The case has renewed attention on the risks associated with weight-loss medications and the importance of considering underlying medical conditions when prescribing them.