Ger 7 Cor Ref: CSU-2012-HAM-000553 CERTIFICATE OF FINDINGS Section 94, Coroners Act 2006 IN THE MATTER of Joshua TANUVASA The Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Wellington As the Coroner conducting an inquiry into the death of the deceased, after considering all the evidence admitted to date for its purposes, and in the light of the purposes stated in section 57 of the Coroners Act 2006, I make the following findings following a hearing held on the papers in chambers in accordance with section 77(2) of the said Act: Full Name of deceased: Joshua TANUVASA Late of: 9 Kenney Crescent, Fairfield, Hamilton Occupation: Kitchen Hand Sex: Male Date of Birth: 12 January 1995 Place of Death: Les Mills Gymnasium, 611 Victoria Street, Hamilton Date of Death: 31 October 2012 Causes of death Direct cause: Cardiac Antecedent cause (if known): Left ventricular cardiac hypertrophy Underlying condition (if known): Other signi?cant conditions contributing to death, but not related to disease or condition causing it (if known): Circumstances of Death 1 On 31 October 2012, Joshua Tanuvasa and his brother Jamieson, together with another friend, went to the for a workout. Joshua completed one set of exercises. He got up from the machine but then collapsed onto the floor, convulsing. He was helped up from the floor, but collapsed again, becoming unconscious. CPR was commenced when no pulse could be located. An ambulance attended, but Joshua could not be revived. 2 A post?mortem examination of Joshua has indicated that the cause of death was as set out above: A report provided by Environmental Science and Research institute Limited (ESR) following an analysis of blood taken at autopsy has detected no trace of alcohol in the blood, and no evidence of the use of amphetamine type stimulants, barbiturate type drugs, benzodiazepine type drugs, opiate type drugs, methadone, cocaine, cannabis or the party pills that contain DMAA. Joshua was 17 years of age, and was working towards completing the qualification to become a personal trainer. He excelled in school at sport and was a member of the Les Mills gymnasium in Hamilton. He was in the habit of using pre?training supplements and protein powders to assist him in his training. On 31 October 2012, Joshua went to the with his brother Jamieson and another friend. On the way they stopped to purchase some protein powder, which Joshua put into his drink. At the gym, Joshua completed a set of exercises. He then got up from the machine but collapsed onto the floor, convulsing. Another trainer helped him up from the floor, but he then collapsed again and became unconscious. An ambulance was called, and attempts made to resuscitate Joshua, but to no avail. Police investigated this death and made extensive enquiries concerning the nature of the protein powder and supplements that Joshua had been taking. ESR did a thorough analysis of the products taken. The report from ESR states that the main purpose of the analysis was to look at the amounts of caffeine and theobromine present in the blood and urine taken from Joshua and compare these with the amounts of these compounds seen in other samples analysed by this method. The conclusion was that the levels of caffeine and theobromine in Joshua?s blood were not excessive when compared with blood samples that had been taken from drivers under the Land Transport Act. Joshua's family have raised concerns that he may have ingested a substance at the shop where the supplement was purchased which precipitated his collapse and death. The Police investigation did not reveal any evidence to support this concern, and the ESR analysis did not show any substance in Joshua's blood or urine to indicate he had taken any such substance. The Cardiac inherited Disease Group also investigated this death in an attempt to explain why the death occurred. A report from the CIDG notes that there does not appear to be any history of sudden death in Joshua's family. Further investigations were carried out by Dr Paul Morrow, and the report states that Dr Morrow summarised that Joshua appears to have died of a cardiac disease due to cardiac hypertrophy of undetermined aetiology (cause). The CIDG report concludes that the genetic test result reveals no known pathogenic mutations within the selected genes linked to HCM. Further, no firm judgement could be made regarding the likelihood of HCM or other causing this sudden death, given the incomplete family history and incomplete family investigation. It is noted that the heart was enlarged and there was a finding of non-specific cardiomyopathy. Conclusions 9 10 I am satisfied from the evidence before me that Joshua's death was due to a cardiac disease due to a cardiac hypertrophy, the cause of which cannot be determined. There is no evidence to indicate that Joshua's death was in any way due to his ingesting any supplements or any other performance-enhancing drug. Joshua Tanuvasa died at the Les Mills Gymnasium, 611 Victoria Street, Hamilton, on 31 October 2012. The cause of death was cardiac due to left ventricular cardiac hypertrophy. My reasons for making those findings are as follows: 1 The investigation conducted by the Poiice, and the statements provided to me as part of that investigation, have established the matters set out above with regard to the identity and personal details of the deceased, and the circumstances of the death. 2 I have accepted the report provided to me from Dr Sinha, the Pathologist who performed a post-mortem examination of the deceased, as to the causes of death as set out above. 3 I have accepted the report provided to me from ESR as to the level of alcohol, drugs and . medication found in the deceased at the time of death. 4 have accepted the report provided to me from Dr Stiles, a Consultant Cardiologist at Waikato Hospitai and a member of the has established the circumstances of the death as set out above. Signed at Hamiiton on 8 April 2014 CoroerVJP Ryan