Evidence of Myocarditis – But the Coroner Dismisses Covid Vaccines and Blames Alcohol

January 10, 2026 antivax, myocarditis

On January 7th an inquest was held at the Old Courthouse in Hatfield into the sudden death of a young man which offers a troubling insight into how difficult it still is to ask uncomfortable questions about COVID-19 vaccine safety. The well-established links between the COVID-19 vaccines and adverse outcomes, including death, are acknowledged generally. But specific attribution remains elusive.

A young man, Kieran Duce, who was 23 years old, died unexpectedly after consuming alcohol in quantities all experts agreed were well below a level normally associated with fatality. His death was sudden, unexplained, with no suspicious circumstances, and devastating for his family.

On March 25th 2023, Kieran arrived home at 02:37 (recorded on CCTV). He vomited and went to his bedroom. Evidence suggests that he adjusted the Venetian blinds in his room before going to bed. The last recorded heart rate on his Apple Watch was at 02:52. Kieran was found dead on his bed by his brother James and emergency services were called at 10:15.

Post-mortem examination was inconclusive about the cause of death, but the following facts were recorded: Kieran had a blood alcohol level of 194 mg/dL; and there was evidence of lymphocyte infiltration in one of the samples taken from Kieran’s heart. Kieran’s lungs were clear, ruling out aspiration from vomiting and asphyxiation.

Kieran, described by Senior Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan as a “tall, healthy, athletic, good-looking man”, had no significant medical history, as confirmed by his GP. Kieran had been vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer preparation three times, in June, August and December 2021. The last dose was approximately 15 months before his death. Notwithstanding, Kieran had contracted COVID-19.

The pathologist who conducted the original post-mortem was indisposed but was represented at the inquest by Dr Fiona Scott of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The toxicologist involved with the case was Dr Stephanie Martin FRCPath of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Hospital Trust. Neither were specialists in cardiac pathology.

Both Dr Scott and Dr Martin were clear that the level of blood alcohol was well below the minimum level of 300 mg/dL normally associated with alcohol-induced death. Death in such cases results from suppression of the central nervous system, with suppression of respiration resulting in low blood oxygen, including in the heart circulation, leading to death.

The presence of lymphocytes – cells that are associated with immune responses – in one of the samples of heart tissue was explored but largely dismissed. In the absence of more of Kieran’s heart tissue (the three samples taken comprised only around 1.5%) it was impossible to ascertain if the lymphocyte infiltration was more widespread and whether it was associated with cell death elsewhere or could have been confidently called myocarditis.

Kieran had no history of cardiac problems. Other than the presence of the lymphocytes, Kieran’s heart showed no signs of any pathology, and no pathology was found in any other organ systems. No other intoxicating substances were found in his blood.