A business student died from inhaling ‘hippy crack’ nitrous oxide after ordering huge bottles of the drug up to three times a day, her inquest has heard.
Business student Ellen Mercer, 24, from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, died in hospital on February 9 last year after suddenly becoming unwell.
A post mortem examination report found that ‘large blood clots’ which formed in Ms Mercer’s legs moved to the arteries in her lungs, eventually causing a ‘sudden cardio respiratory collapse.’
Coroner Heidi Connor listed ‘long term complications due to nitrous oxide abuse’ among the causes of her death.
The inquest heard Ms Mercer required urgent medical care several times in the months leading up to her death, including on February 5 when she called the ambulance service saying she was ‘unable to get up’ and felt ‘pain in both legs and lower back.’
Business student Ellen Mercer, 24, from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, died in hospital on February 9 last year after suddenly becoming unwell
Coroner Heidi Connor listed ‘long term complications due to nitrous oxide abuse’ among the causes of her death
Medics who tried to save her found there were ‘features of neurological compromise’ with later tests finding that laughing gas, used by youngsters at parties, had caused serious circulation and breathing problems.
A later post-mortem examination found that an underlying cause of Ms Mercer’s death had related to ‘long term complications’ related to the party drug, the Sun reported.
At the opening of Ms Mercer’s inquest in February, Berkshire coroner Hannah Godfrey said that the student ‘had a history of nitrous oxide abuse’. Her inquest will be held at a later date.
Ms Mercer was described by her family as a ‘truly beautiful soul’ who was ‘missed by everyone lucky enough to have met her’.
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