Student died after inhaling 'two or three' bottles of laughing gas a day, inquest hears

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Nitrous oxide abuse was a contributing factor in the death of a student from a blood clot, an inquest has heard. Ellen Mercer, 24, was consuming two to three 'big bottles' of nitrous oxide daily, according to evidence presented at Berkshire coroner's court.

She was taken to hospital by the emergency services in the early hours of February 9 last year, after she reported that she was unable to walk and would fall over when she tried.

She was treated by medical staff at Wexham Park Hospital Emergency Department, but she was found unresponsive about 24 hours later, at 00.52am on February 10, and was declared dead at 1.15am.

The inquest heard that a post-mortem examination report found Ms Mercer's death to have been caused by bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, and "long-term complications of nitrous oxide use". READ MORE: Coronation Street Ellie Leach fans 'tearing up' as actress opens up on Strictly Come Dancing media scrutiny Ms Mercer was said to have spent the previous two weeks unable to leave her bed because of her abuse of the substance.