AN OXFORD college has said it was 'surprised' by a coroner’s ruling over the death of a 23-year-old physics student who died of an overdose.

Daniel Mervis, from North London, who was a student at St John’s College, died during an accidental drug overdose in October 2019 – just two months after relapsing into addiction after being eight months clean.

Now the coroner for Oxfordshire has called for Oxford University to overhaul its drugs policy.

In a report published last week, the coroner directly criticised the drugs policy at the Oxford college and said that an overhaul of its current policy was needed to prevent future deaths with early intervention.

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The report also said that ‘it was clear’ that Mr Mervis was using drugs while he was at St John’s.

A spokesperson for the college said: “St John’s College were greatly shocked and saddened at the news of Daniel Mervis’ death.

“The college has responded to all enquiries from the coroner’s office but is surprised at the publication of this report, as we had been informed by them that Oxford and St John’s were outside of the sequence of events that led to and caused the death.

“Comprehensive support provisions are available to all students who may benefit from help with drugs or other medical and welfare problems, and as part of the student induction procedure the senior dean and welfare dean see all new undergraduates in freshers’ week and specifically refer them to the support provisions available."