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Bank intern Moritz Erhardt died from epileptic seizure, inquest told Bank intern Moritz Erhardt died from epileptic seizure, inquest told
(about 1 hour later)
Moritz Erhardt, the 21-year-old Bank of America Merrill Lynch intern who was found dead in a shower at his London flat after working for 72 hours in a row, died of an epileptic seizure, an inquest has found.Moritz Erhardt, the 21-year-old Bank of America Merrill Lynch intern who was found dead in a shower at his London flat after working for 72 hours in a row, died of an epileptic seizure, an inquest has found.
The coroner, Mary Hassell, said fatigue could have been a trigger, but there was no proof of this and it was possible that the seizure was something that just happened. The coroner Mary Hassell said fatigue could have been a trigger, but there was no proof of this and it was possible that the seizure was something that just happened.
Erhardt, from south-west Germany, was found dead in a shower cubicle at his temporary accommodation in east London in August. The unexpected death of the dedicated student sent shockwaves through the world of investment banking as reports of extreme working habits sparked debate about a culture that effectively forces interns into working 100-hour weeks in an attempt to break into the lucrative industry. Erhardt, from south-west Germany, was found dead in a shower cubicle at his temporary accommodation in east London in August. The death of the dedicated student as well as reports of extreme working habits in investment bank led to a debate about a culture that effectively forces interns into working 100-hour weeks in an attempt to break into the lucrative industry.
Erhardt was a week from completing a coveted placement at Bank of America Merrill Lynch's London offices, and was due to be offered a job at the bank. Erhardt was a week from completing a placement at Bank of America Merrill Lynch's London offices, and was due to be offered a job at the bank.
An inquest at Poplar Coroner's Court in east London today heard that the German student was taking medication for epilepsy, but had not told anyone at the bank about his condition. An inquest at Poplar coroner's court in east London on Friday heard that he was taking medication for epilepsy, but had not told anyone at the bank about his condition.
Hassell told the court: "Unfortunately, although many, many people live with epilepsy and go on to live to old age, sometimes it still causes death very suddenly in this way and sometimes that happens even with a person as young and as fit as Moritz was.Hassell told the court: "Unfortunately, although many, many people live with epilepsy and go on to live to old age, sometimes it still causes death very suddenly in this way and sometimes that happens even with a person as young and as fit as Moritz was.
"One of the triggers for epilepsy is exhaustion and it may be that because Moritz had been working so hard his fatigue was a trigger for the seizure that killed him."One of the triggers for epilepsy is exhaustion and it may be that because Moritz had been working so hard his fatigue was a trigger for the seizure that killed him.
"But that's only a possibility and I don't want his family to go away with the thought that it was something that Moritz did that causes his death."But that's only a possibility and I don't want his family to go away with the thought that it was something that Moritz did that causes his death.
"He was a young man living life to the full and he was clearly enjoying his time in London and, whilst it's possible that fatigue brought about the fatal seizure, it is also possible that it just happened. And it is something that does just happen.""He was a young man living life to the full and he was clearly enjoying his time in London and, whilst it's possible that fatigue brought about the fatal seizure, it is also possible that it just happened. And it is something that does just happen."
Pathologist prof Peter Vanezis said there were signs that Mr Erhardt had suffered a seizure and gave the cause of death as epilepsy. Peter Vanezis, a pathology professor, said there were signs that Erhardt had a seizure and gave the cause of death as epilepsy. Asked how the intern could have had a fit despite taking his medication regularly, the pathologist said: "I am afraid it does happen.
Asked how the intern could have had a fit despite taking his medication regularly, the pathologist said: "I am afraid it does happen. "Epilepsy is a very unpredictable condition; unfortunately, in many cases we don't even know why people have seizures. In Moritz's case there were findings which pointed strongly to a seizure and we have a history of epilepsy.
"Epilepsy is a very unpredictable condition; unfortunately, in many cases we don't even know why people have seizures.
"In Moritz's case there were findings which pointed strongly to a seizure and we have a history of epilepsy.
"He was always, I'm afraid, at risk, even when taking medication.""He was always, I'm afraid, at risk, even when taking medication."
Asked what could have triggered the seizure, Prof Vanezis admitted it could be due to tiredness, but added: "It's unpredictable, there might be a trigger, there might not be." Asked what could have triggered the seizure, Vanezis said it could have been tiredness, but added: "It's unpredictable, there might be a trigger, there might not be."
Bob Elfring, co-head of corporate and investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said: "We are used to working with people who are ambitious and want to over-perform" and added that the bank's intern programme had been developed and refined to use various methods of supervision like mentors and development officers. Bob Elfring, co-head of corporate and investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said: "We are used to working with people who are ambitious and want to over-perform."
He said there was no particular urgent project Mr Erhardt had been working on to warrant the long hours and admitted there was not a current system for monitoring working hours at the bank. He added that the bank's intern programme had been developed and refined to use various methods of supervision like mentors and development officers.
Mr Elfring said that, while he did not think a clocking system should be put in place, it might be possible to introduce a way of analysing the cards used by staff to swipe into a building to see if someone was repeatedly working long hours. Elfring said there was no particular urgent project Erhardt had been working on to warrant the long hours and admitted there was not a current system for monitoring working hours at the bank.
He said a global review had been launched, looking at issues including staffing and working hours at several levels, and said so far around 200 people have been interviewed. Elfring said that while he did not think a clocking system should be put in place, it might be possible to introduce a way of analysing the cards used by staff to swipe into a building to see if someone was repeatedly working long hours.
He said a global review had been launched in August to examine staffing and working hours at several levels, and that about 200 people had been interviewed so far.
"This is a very, very serious effort," he said."This is a very, very serious effort," he said.
One City intern, who wanted to be known only as Alex, told the Guardian at the time of Erhardt's death that working for more than 100 hours was normal, but said that despite the pressures he and other interns enjoyed the experience.One City intern, who wanted to be known only as Alex, told the Guardian at the time of Erhardt's death that working for more than 100 hours was normal, but said that despite the pressures he and other interns enjoyed the experience.
"On average, I get four hours' sleep about 70% of the time … [but] there are also days with eight hours of sleep," Alex said. "Work-life balance is bad. We all know this going in. I guess that's the deal with most entry-level jobs these days." He added that despite the amount of time spent in the office, he "enjoyed it greatly". "On average, I get four hours' sleep about 70% of the time … [but] there are also days with eight hours of sleep," Alex said. "Work-life balance is bad. We all know this going in. I guess that's the deal with most entry-level jobs these days."
He added that despite the amount of time spent in the office, he "enjoyed it greatly".
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