Woman Died After Taking Cocaine, Laughing Gas And Ecstasy

A young woman died after a night out with friends in Manchester, having taken a mixture of drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and laughing gas.

19-year-old Lauren Atkinson had booked two apartments for the night in the city, having travelled from Ulverston, Cumbria, with friends.

She died at the City Warehouse ApartHotel in Manchester, after a night out at The Warehouse Project. Friends said she had been drinking vodka, and that they found her collapsed in her hotel room.

They attempted CPR before calling paramedics and first responders, who unsuccessfully tried to revive her for 22 minutes.

Friends said Atkinson had shown no adverse affects to the alcohol or drugs she'd consumed until around 4.30 in the morning. Sophie Jackson said she became anxious around that time.

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"She wasn't complaining she was unwell but she made a comment about everyone looking at her." she said. "So I said shall we go? And we left around 4.30am to get a taxi."

Atkinson locked herself in a bathroom and collapsed but another friend managed to unlock the door and put her to bed.

"She was complaining there was someone on the balcony, but there wasn't," said friend Sophie Jackson. "And she was pulling at her hair trying to get her bobble out so I helped her do it. I then left and went through to the other room to see who was back."

Atkinson was left to sleep, but was found by another friend 'having a fit'.

Another friend, Jake Marsden, gave evidence in court. "It was not normal what she was doing. It was quite distinct there was something quite serious going on."

When asked, Marsden said the group should have rang 'the ambulance first time', but agreed the scene had been 'confusing and chaotic'.

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Following a toxicological examination, Dr Emyr Benbow said Atkinson's death had been caused by the toxicity of laughing gas, cocaine and ecstasy.

Fiona Borrill, senior coroner for Manchester noted Atkinson's parents had warned her about drug use in the past, and that her intake was not habitual.

"It's quite clear to me that Lauren was not a habitual user and that this was a recreational use of drugs. It's quite clear to me that you (Mrs Atkinson) and Mr Atkinson had spoken to Lauren about the risks of drug taking."

She added: "It's quite clear to me Lauren and her friends had underestimated the risks and toxic effects of those drugs. Lauren's death is a tragedy not only for her family but also for her friends. I very much hope that her friends realised that it could have been them and it could have been their inquest that I was dealing with in court today.

"This was a catastrophic conclusion after what should have been a great night out at Warehouse Project."

Topics: UK News, News, Manchester

Ronan O'Shea

Ronan J O'Shea is a freelance journalist from London who has written for titles including LADbible, Headspace, The Independent, National Geographic Traveller and New York Post. Contact him at [email protected].