Zara found unconcious, but breathing on the way to hospital, Coroner's Court told

KOTA KINABALU - An assistant medical officer told the Coroner’s Court that Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious but still breathing normally when first attended to.

Kinarut Health Clinic assistant medical officer Mohd Faiszal Md Saimi, 40, the first responder at the scene, said the victim had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) reading of 3/15, a level typically associated with severe traumatic brain injury.

Despite the low GCS score, he said the victim’s vital signs remained stable during transport to the hospital.

"While in the ambulance, I continuously monitored her condition. Her blood pressure was 108/83 mmHg, pulse rate 82 per minute, respiratory rate 20 per minute and oxygen saturation 98 per cent...all within normal range,” he said when reading his witness statement before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

Mohd Faiszal, the 69th witness, said he received an emergency call at 3.23 am regarding a student who had fallen at the dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha in Kinarut, and arrived at the scene at about 3.45 am.

Upon arriving at the location, he found the victim lying unconscious on a cement floor near the dormitory building.

Initial emergency treatment included the application of a cervical collar, oxygen support and other stabilisation measures before she was transported to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.

Further examination showed the victim did not respond to light, sound or painful stimuli, including the trapezius squeeze test.

He also confirmed that no medication, including anticonvulsants such as Phenytoin, was administered during the initial treatment.

Previously, the court heard that post-mortem laboratory tests detected the presence of Phenytoin in the victim’s kidney tissue.

Responding to questions from the legal team led by lawyer Shahlan Jufri, Mohd Faiszal explained that Phenytoin is a Group B drug that can only be administered with a doctor’s approval and is typically used for seizures that cannot be controlled with first-line treatment such as Diazepam.

"Phenytoin is usually a last-resort option when seizures cannot be controlled,” he said, adding that the medication is available in tablet, capsule or injection form but requires a prescription.

Zara Qairina, 13, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at about 4 am.

On Aug 13, 2025, the Attorney General’s Chambers ordered an inquest after reviewing the police investigation report. Earlier, on Aug 8, the AGC directed that the victim’s grave be exhumed to facilitate a post-mortem examination.

The inquest proceedings will continue on April 16. - BERNAMA