- Ellen Mercer, 24, died in hospital last year after suddenly becoming unwell
A business student died from inhaling ‘hippie crack’ laughing gas after ordering huge bottles of the drug up to three times a day, her inquest 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’ that formed in Mrs Mercer’s legs traveled to the arteries in her lungs and eventually caused ‘sudden cardio-respiratory collapse’.
Coroner Heidi Connor listed “long-term complications due to nitrous oxide abuse” as one of the causes of her death.
The inquest heard that Mrs Mercer required emergency medical care on several occasions in the months leading up to her death, including on February 5 when she called the ambulance service and said she was ‘unable to get up’ and ‘in pain both legs and lower back felt’. ‘
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’ as one of the causes of Mrs Mercer’s death (pictured)
Medics who tried to save her discovered that she had “signatures of neurological problems.” Later tests showed that nitrous oxide, used by young people at parties, had caused serious circulatory and breathing problems.
A later post-mortem examination found that an underlying cause of Ms Mercer’s death was 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 the student ‘had a history of nitrous oxide abuse’.
Mrs Mercer was described by her family as a ‘truly beautiful soul’ who was ‘missed by all who were fortunate enough to have met her’.
Her mother Sharon Cook, 54, said on social media: “I miss you so much my sweet girl. I hope you are well taken care of by dad and grandma. I wasn’t ready for you to leave me.’
At the time of Ms Mercer’s death, hippie crack – also known as laughing gas – was not classified as illegal. It wasn’t until November last year that it became a Class C list.
Repeat nitrous oxide offenders now face jail time, with dealers facing up to 14 years in prison.
Users risk an unlimited fine, community service, a warning – which would appear on their criminal record – or a possible two-year prison sentence for serious regular users.
Nitrous oxide bottles discarded on the side of a road near Ebbsfleet, Kent
Nitrous oxide is the second most commonly used drug among 16 to 24-year-olds in England after cannabis, and is blamed for fueling littering and anti-social behaviour.
Last summer, during the Notting Hill Carnival, it was reported that 13 tonnes of cans of the drug had been collected after the festival.
Inhaling the gas causes short-term feelings of dizziness, giggling and hallucinations.
However, heavy, regular abuse carries significant health risks, including anemia and, in more severe cases, nerve damage or paralysis.
It has been found to have potentially fatal consequences on UK roads due to drug-driving incidents.
However, nitrous oxide has legitimate uses, such as use in maternity wards during childbirth. It will still be legal for those purposes.
No permits will be required to transport nitrous oxide, but users will have to prove that they do not intend to use it for psychoactive effects.