Ellen Mercer’s family described her as a ‘truly beautiful and gentle soul’ (Picture: Ellen Mercer/Facebook)
A ‘truly beautiful’ student may have died due to long-term use of laughing gas, an inquest has heard.
Business student Ellen Mercer, 24, was rushed to hospital on February 9 last year after suffering ‘sudden and unexpected cardio respiratory collapse’, MailOnline reported.
The young woman from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, died in hospital.
Medics found ‘features of neurological compromise’, and later tests revealed the nitrous oxide – often inhaled through balloons – had caused serious circulation and breathing problems.
Empty canisters of nitrous oxide are often discarded on the ground after the laughing gas is inhaled through balloons (Picture: Adam Webb / Getty Images / iStockphoto)
A later post-mortem examination found ‘long-term complications’ related to the party drug to be an underlying cause of Ellen’s death.
The 24-year-old ‘had a history of nitrous oxide abuse’, Berkshire coroner Hannah Godfrey said at an opening of Ellen’s inquest on Monday, February 26.
Her inquest will be held at a later date.
Ellen’s family described her as a ‘truly beautiful and gentle soul’ who was ‘missed by everyone lucky enough to have met her.
Her mother Sharon Cook, 54, said on social media: ‘I miss you so much my darling girl.
‘Hope you’re being well looked after by dad and grandma. I wasn’t ready for you to leave me.’
Nitrous oxide was not illegal when Ellen died but it was made a Class C drug last November.
Dealers now face up to 14 years in prison. Users of the substance face an unlimited fine, community service or a caution.
Repeat offenders risk spending two years in jail.
It remains legal for legitimate purposes, such as when it is used for whipped cream or on maternity wards during labour.
Licences are not needed to carry nitrous oxide, but users will be required to demonstrate they are not intending to consume it for psychoactive effects.
Nitrous oxide, also dubbed ‘hippy crack’, is the second most commonly used drug among 16 to 24-year-olds in England after cannabis.
Offering a short feeling of lightheadedness, along with giggles and hallucinations, it has been blamed for fuelling littering and anti-social behaviour.
Roughly 13 tonnes of canisters were reportedly collected after the Notting Hill Carnival last summer.
Regular heavy use of the substance can cause major consequences for health, including anaemia, nerve damage or paralysis.
Drug driving incidents mean it has potentially fatal results on the UK’s roads.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.