A teenager has tragically died at her friend's sleepover after taking an ecstasy pill, reports the Mirror. Lila-Grace Smith, 17, passed away after taking the drug for the first time, according to her mother.
Bradford Coroner's Court heard the harrowing incident occurred back in 2021 in West Yorkshire. Her heartbroken mother, Emma Hargreaves, told the inquest that she'd previously warned her children about taking drugs because she knew someone who overdosed from ecstasy.
In a statement read to the court, Emma said Lila had spoken to her about her friends taking drugs, but she herself had never taken any. She said: "Lila would stay over at her friend's houses from time to time.
"We knew she would have a drink when she went to parties, but we weren't worried about her consuming alcohol. We'd just started having conversations about drugs.
"When I was younger, I knew someone who overdosed on ecstasy." The inquest heard that on June 3, 2021, Lila was sleeping over at a friend's house in Keighley.
They had discussed going out for the evening to visit bars but decided to stay instead. The court heard that the friends consumed various stimulants including alcohol, nitrous oxide - a legal high known as 'hippy crack' - and later ecstasy.
Detective Sergeant Collum Hanogue told the inquest that police were unable to identify who had supplied and acquired the drug and no criminal proceedings were ongoing. The DS said that the two girls with Lila called one of their partners just after 11pm after she'd taken ill.
The unnamed man and three friends then got in a taxi and arrived at the house at 11.20pm. Two of the group then put Lila in the recovery position.
However, when her condition worsened at 11.42pm, they rang 999 and administered CPR until the ambulance arrived. Paramedics then rushed Lila to hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12.45am on June 4 2021.
Recording a narrative conclusion, Assistant Coroner for West Yorkshire Mary Burke said: "This is a tragic case of the death of a young girl who had her whole life ahead of her. Hopefully young people out there who might hear of this report may pause and think for a minute before they take such risks.
"We have a family here who will grieve forever and a day for the loss of their loved one. Let this be a lesson, please."
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