Prominent B.C. anti-vaxxer died of fentanyl overdose, coroner rules

Coroner's report dispels myth that Makhan Singh Parhar died from COVID-19

The B.C. Coroners Service has ruled New Westminster anti-vaxxer Makhan Singh Parhar died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at home.

According to the report, Parhar was found deceased by family members in the bathroom of his private residence at 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2021. He was last seen alive at around midnight Nov. 5.

Coroner Damian Balam wrote in his report that Parhar was 48 when he died.

“Upon physical examination at the scene by the attending coroner, Mr. Parhar was found lying on the floor. There was no observable traumatic injury, evidence of foul play, or evidence of acute self harm. Paraphernalia commonly associated with illicit substance use was found nearby (uncapped syringe, burnt spoon, glass pipe),” Balam wrote.

He said that Parhar had no history of substance use problems or record of being treated with opioids.

“Toxicological analysis detected concentrations of fentanyl that has been associated with fatalities, a cocaine concentration that has been associated with recreational use and ethanol at a concentration below levels typically associated with intoxication,” Balam wrote.

The coroner’s report puts to bed a myth that Parhar died from COVID-19, that was based on his statements on social media a few days before his death that he wasn’t feeling well.

In late 2020, Parhar was charged with violating the Quarantine Act after returning from an out-of-country flat Earth conference called Flatoberfest 2020 — a one-day gathering of self-described “alternative cosmology enthusiasts.”

He later talked about his refusal to self-isolate during a rally in downtown Vancouver.

New Westminster police said that after receiving a violation ticket, Parhar continued to leave his residence. He attended Vancouver-area protests against COVID-19 restrictions and repeatedly called the coronavirus a hoax.

In March 2021, the City of Delta revoked the business licence of his hot yoga studio, Bikram Yoga Delta, after Parhar flouted the B.C. ban on gatherings and made false claims about heat destroying the coronavirus.

In B.C. on average six people a day die from consuming drugs like cocaine, heroin and MDMA that have been mixed with fentanyl as a way for dealers to make more money. The super strong and difficult to dose fentanyl is relatively cheap and so it gets cut into the other drugs.

The provincial government has not been able to manage this health crisis.

with file from Tiffany Crawford