A promising goalkeeper for a university lacrosse team was found unresponsive at his dorm on November 14, 2023. The cause of his death was finally unveiled by the coroner on February 28, 2024. 

Eighteen-year-old University of Lincoln student, Alfie John Head, died of alcohol poisoning after consuming a full bottle of vodka at a sports team social event in Lincolnshire, England. 

Head died on November 14, 2023, in the intensive care unit at Lincoln County Hospital.

Beginning his university studies in September 2023, Head’s life was cut short just two months later. The inquest into his death concluded that Head died from a hypoxic brain injury due to aspiration pneumonia, itself a result of acute alcohol toxicity.

The events leading to Head’s hospitalization began at a Lacrosse Society social gathering where his consumption of the entire bottle of vodka shocked his peers. His condition rapidly deteriorated after collapsing en route back to his residence. By the time paramedics arrived shortly after midnight, Head was in cardiac arrest.

Area Coroner for Lincolnshire, Jayne Wilkes, and PC Thomas Jacobs from Lincolnshire Police, relayed the night’s details. Jacobs, responding to the emergency, confirmed the sequence of events through Head’s friends’ accounts.

Head’s death has deeply affected his family, friends, and the Lacrosse Society. Known for his vivacious personality, love for gaming, and support for Arsenal FC, Head was celebrated for his eagerness to join the lacrosse team, despite having no prior experience in the sport. His family, from Hertford, remembered him as a cherished presence, eagerly looking forward to becoming an uncle.

In a poignant Facebook post, Head’s father, Mark, 54, recounted the harrowing phone call about his son’s critical condition and the ensuing struggle in the ICU. The post reflected on Alfie’s joy and satisfaction at university, a stark contrast to the circumstances of his passing.

The Lacrosse Society at the University of Lincoln expressed devastation over losing Head, noting his significant contribution to the team as a “life and soul” member and a promising new goalkeeper.

The incident highlights the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, particularly within university settings known for social drinking events. The University of Lincoln and its students’ union have offered condolences to Head’s family and friends, emphasizing their support for those grieving.