Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death was caused by severe traumatic brain injury, complicated by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition resulting from a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain.
This was revealed in a medical report read by Dr. Pavankumar Balachandran, a neurosurgeon at Hospital Queen Elizabeth (HQE), who testified as the fourth witness in her inquest at the Coroner’s Court today.
Dr. Pavankumar explained that Zara arrived at the hospital with extensive brain bleeding and no neurological response. Her condition worsened during treatment, and she passed away at 1:07 PM on July 17, after two days under specialist care.
The 16-year-old was found unconscious near a drain at her school dormitory before being taken to HQE’s Emergency and Trauma Department at 4:38 AM by the Pre-Hospital Care (PHC) team from Kinarut Health Clinic. A trauma alert was triggered at 4:42 AM, and the neurosurgery team found her intubated, unresponsive, and fully dependent on a ventilator. Her pupils were dilated, and no brain reflexes were detected. External examination showed swelling and lacerations at the back of her head, which had been stitched to stop bleeding.
CT scans revealed acute subarachnoid hemorrhages in both hemispheres, subdural bleeding in multiple areas including the interhemispheric fissure and tentorium cerebelli, and early signs of tonsillar herniation at the foramen magnum. The report also noted loss of distinction between gray and white brain matter, indicating critical neurological damage.
In addition to head injuries, Zara suffered a fractured left wrist, an open fracture of the left ankle, and injuries to the right ankle. She was admitted to HQE’s Neurosurgery Ward on the evening of July 16 but showed no signs of recovery, with her condition continuing to deteriorate until her death the next day.
Her death was subsequently reported to the police for further investigation.
