“Death of COVID Critic Ruled an Accidental Drug Overdose: BC Coroner”
VICTORIA — A British Columbia coroner’s report says a prominent anti-vaccination and COVID critic died of a drug overdose in 2021, despite also testing positive for the disease postmortem.
According to the report, Mak Parhar was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his New Westminster home on November 4, 2021 by a family member.
Coroner Damian Balam’s report on the death says Parhar was found lying on the ground with drug paraphernalia, including a syringe, a glass pipe and a burned spoon, nearby.
Balam’s report states that Parhar had ethanol, cocaine and fentanyl in his system at the time of death, which was ruled accidental for “mixed illicit drug toxicity.”
The report also states that Parhar had COVID-19 at the time of his death, although the coroner determined that it didn’t matter.
Parhar, a flat-earth anti-vaccine and conspiracy theorist, rose to prominence during the pandemic, using social media and appearing in person at protests to amplify his views.
“Mr. Parhar had an uncomplicated medical history,” the coroner’s report reads. “There was no recent documented history of problems with substance use, hospitalization, or prior opioid agonist treatment.”
Parhar’s death came shortly after he shared a video online in which he admitted to having COVID-like symptoms but denied having “CONVID” and said he was treating himself with over-the-counter medication.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 7, 2023.
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