Coroner's Finding: Philp, Afrika Rose Pearl

17y · Female·multiple injuries

Afrikah Rose Pearl Philp, aged 17, died from multiple injuries sustained in a high-speed vehicle collision on 6 October 2017 while being pursued by police. She had a complex medical history including psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Toxicology showed methylamphetamine, amphetamine, THC, and therapeutic levels of ketamine and quetiapine. The vehicle reached speeds up to 105km/h before colliding with a retaining wall. She sustained severe traumatic brain injury with diffuse cerebral oedema, subarachnoid haemorrhage, subdural haemorrhage, and basal skull injuries. Emergency management at Flinders Medical Centre included decompressive craniectomy, extraventricular drain insertion, and fracture fixation. She developed a traumatic right internal carotid artery aneurysm on day 12 post-injury with catastrophic bleeding, leading to brain death. The coroner found the death not preventable and made no recommendations.