Death in Kelowna homeless camp ruled an accidental overdose

Shane Alan Bourdin died of “mixed drug toxicity” at a Kelowna homeless camp run by the City of Kelowna in December 2019.

Coroner Michael D. Davis confirmed in a report today, Jan. 15, what was suspected at the time.

Bourdin died of a mixture of fentanyl “within a range where therapeutic and lethal concentrations overlap” and methamphetamine “at a concentration associated with recreational use.”

The combination was enough to kill him.

His death sparked an outpouring of grief from other homeless people camped there and members of the community who had been trying to help him get back on his feet.

READ MORE: Man who died in Kelowna homeless camp was trying to 'get back on the straight and narrow'

Bourdin was last seen alive in the camp on Recreation Avenue by a security guard at 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2019. He was found unresponsive in his tent at 11:55 p.m. with drug paraphernalia (small plastic bags with a suspected illicit substance, used syringes and pipes), Davis’ report states.

Ambulance attendants tried to revive him on the way to Kelowna General Hospital but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at 3:35 a.m.

“There was no evidence of traumatic injury or foul play,” Davis wrote.

Bourdin’s medical history indicated prior drug use, mainly crack cocaine and opioids. He had participated in recovery programs and opioid agonist therapy some time in the past but not within the last year of his life, the report stated.

READ MORE: The homeless man who died in Kelowna this week was loved by many

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