‘Bubble’ death of Colne teenager

Rebecca Cardwell (19) of Coleridge Close, Colne, died at St James’ Hospital, Leeds, on May 20th, days after collapsing at a house in Hawley Street, Colne.

She had been taken by ambulance to the Royal Blackburn Hospital before being transferred to Leeds with suspected liver failure.

An inquest into her death, held at Burnley Coroner’s Court, heard the popular girl, who liked to go out with friends, had been dropped off at the house by her cousin, Michael Hoyle.

Rebecca joined other young people at the house in taking the drug mephedrone, which had been made illegal the month before following a nationwide outcry.

Mephedrone, also known as “bubble” and “meow meow”, was previously sold legally as a plant-feeder but had become the drug of choice for young clubbers, giving the similar euphoric effect of ecstacy.

However, evidence from the post-mortem examination, carried out by pathologist Dr Abdul Al-Dawoud, found the mephedrone, taken in powder form, also contained amphetamine and two other chemical substances BZP and TFMPP.

Dr Al-Dawoud said: “Mephedrone is a chemically designed drug, used by young people for recreation. The level in Rebecca’s system at the time of her admission to the Royal Blackburn Hospital was three times the level normally taken for recreation.

“It has a similar effect to cocaine and ecstacy but also has similar side-effects such as an increase in heart rate, temperature blood pressure, as well as chest pains and breathing difficulties. There was also lower levels of the drugs amphetamine, BZP and TFMPP found. It was a combination of the toxic effect of these drugs that caused death.”

During the inquest, Rebecca’s father Mr Glen Cardwell asked Dr Al-Dawoud whether a delay of more than an hour before an ambulance was called could have contributed to her death, but the pathologist said it would have made little difference.

The inquest heard evidence from Rebecca’s friend, Scott McMurray, who said he had taken the drug with her and several other people. He had described it as “stronger than usual”.

He said: “Some people were saying at the time they thought it wasn’t just bubble but as far as I was concerned it had the same kick as bubble.”

Another man, Russell Stansfield, told the hearing how he had gone to the house in his car to pick up a friend, but was confronted with an unusual request when he arrived.

“A lot of people were stood outside the house when I got there and I was asked to take the girl (Rebecca) in my car away from the house. She had collapsed and I said she needed an ambulance. I called 999 and when the police and ambulance arrived a number of the people had left. I didn’t know the girl.”

Michael Hoyle told the inquest the house was “a party house” and Rebecca had asked him to pick her up in “an hour or two”. He described Rebecca as “a very upbeat and popular girl who liked to have a good time”.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire Coroner Mr Richard Taylor said a number of questions had not been answered by the inquest as certain witnesses had not attended.

He added: “Everybody talked warmly of Rebecca. I know her parents hope other people will be deterred from taking this drug because of what happened to Rebecca and I share that hope.

“I don’t believe she was put under pressure to take the drug or that she realised what would happen. It was sadly a tragic end.”