Student, 18, froze to death after drinking five ‘Purple’ pints containing 30 shots of vodka
Carrie Everest took off her shoes before slipping into river on her way home from nightclub
A STUDENT drank 30 shots of vodka at a notorious boozing hotspot before stumbling down a steep embankment and falling into murky water where she died of hypothermia, an inquest heard.
Carrie Everest, 18, was found face up in a river following a night out at popular student venue Corporation in Sheffield, South Yorks.
She had drunk five pints of a drink called 'Purple' - consisting of four shots of vodka, a blue alcopop, purple food colouring and a mixer.
A post-mortem found Carrie she had 252 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - more than three times the drink drive limit.
Forensic Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter told Sheffield Coroner's Court: "She had taken in a very high or extreme amount of alcohol for someone of her size and average drinker."
Police initially treated Carrie's death as murder and a man was quizzed on suspicion of rape - but coroner Christopher Dorries said no one else was involved in the tragedy.
He added: "Some things just remain a mystery and I rule Carrie's death as accidental death."
The inquest heard Carrie went to Corporation nightclub with two school friends on the evening of Saturday November 21 last year.
Carrie, who was studying biomedical sciences at Sheffield Hallam University, was last seen leaving alone at around 2.40am.
CCTV captured Carrie walking along the street before she was joined by Algerian national Yousef Tarfasi, 31, who gave her his jumper.
The two had taken a taxi ride together - but when police spoke to Tarfasi and showed him pictures of Carrie, he denied being with the girl because he feared he would go to prison, the hearing was told.
RELATED STORIES
Carrie's final images on CCTV show her alone walking alone towards the direction of where her body was found, before the cameras caught a silhouette of her kneeling on a wall.
PC Joanne Glaves said: "The last images we see of Caroline is a dark figure we know is her sat on a wall with her legs facing forward.
"It was like she was knelt on the wall and then we can see her then jump over the side onto the steep embankment - those are the last images we see."
Cops later found her shoes on the embankment in Porter Brook and her body nearby in the river.
Forensic Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter said Carrie had injuries to her genitals adding: "The lacerations could be hours or even days old.
"I would not say they would have just happened, but difficult to tell because the body had been in water for quite a while."
She added: "I would say that she was suffering from hypothermia at the time.
"A reason for the taking off of clothes and boots in this case is something called paradox undressing.
"This is because the alcohol flushes the capillaries in the body which makes it believe that it is warm when it actually isn't.
";High alcohol levels and the cold temperature outside would have contributed to hypothermia."
Hypothermia, immersion in water and acute alcohol intoxication were factors in the death, the expert said.
As the last person to speak to Carrie, Mr Tarfasi was arrested on suspicion of rape and questioned by the police. But he denied ever meeting her.
The court heard that he had been spotted with Carrie and they had their arms around each other on CCTV before they took a taxi together which had a gap of around 30 minutes.
Mr Tarfasi, who can only speak in broken English, gave evidence at the coroner's court through an interpreter.
He said he had been at a salsa club in the city centre and wanted to get home so he and Carrie shared a taxi.
The coroner asked him: "Did you have sex with her?" and he replied: "No, I did not."
Mr Dorries the asked: "So then why did you not tell the story to the police?"
Tarfasi, who was wearing a brown leather jacket, replied: "I thought I was going to go to prison if I said I knew her.
"We took a taxi at Corp and then we both got out because I did not have enough money - I only have £4."
The coroner concluded: "From what I have heard today I know that Carrie did not try and take her own life.
"Her shoes were found nearby to her body and there were no other marks or bruises on her body to determine there was a struggle.
"There are things that we just do not know, therefore I come to the conclusion of accidental death."
After the verdict Carrie's family including father Chris Everest and mum Val Harding said in a statement: "Carrie was a warm, friendly and energetic young lady.
"Unfortunately her life was ended far too soon. She had so many plans for the future - her course at Sheffield Hallam University and her love for dancing at City Limits.
"It is sad that a night out with friends should end so tragically - a series of unfortunate events.
"Carrie is constantly in our thoughts and is missed by everyone.
"It was an absolute joy and pleasure to have had her in our lives - and we will never ever forget her bewitching smile."
South Yorkshire Police said that following the inquest no further action will be taken against Mr Tarfasi and the case is closed.