Ellen Mercer, 24, sought medical attention from emergency services
An investigation into the death of a student has revealed she inhaled two to three “large bottles” of the substance a day, possibly as a result of long-term use of laughing gas. independent the report said.
Berkshire Coroner’s Court heard Ellen Mercer, 24, sought medical attention from emergency services in the early hours of February 9 last year, saying she had difficulty walking and had a tendency to fall.
She was treated at Wexham Park Hospital’s emergency department but died around 24 hours later (12.52am on February 10).
Senior coroner Heidi Connor told the inquest that nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, was a factor in her death.
An autopsy determined Ms Mercer’s death was caused by bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis and “long-term complications of nitrous oxide use”, the inquest revealed.
Michaela Kirtley is an emergency medical technician employed by Phoenix Response Services, a contractor working with South Central Ambulance Service , she responded to Ms. Mercer’s residence on February 8.
Upon arrival, Ms. Mercer’s boyfriend escorted her to the bedroom.
“I noticed this room,” she said.
“There were no sheets on the bed. There was just a duvet, which was badly stained. The room was empty.”
She said the scene made it clear to her that she was dealing with a “vulnerable group”.
She noted that Ms. Mercer was speaking normally and the only abnormal vital sign was her heart rate, possibly due to anxiety.
Ms Mercer told her she had suffered burns to her legs from a spilled gas tank, leaving her unable to walk or use the bathroom for two weeks.
She also noted that the 24-year-old woman appeared to be six months pregnant.
She examined the wound on Ms Mercer’s leg, describing it as “kitten”.
Ms. Mercer’s boyfriend gave her a box of gas cans, which she recognized as nitrous oxide.
During the interrogation, she mentioned that the jars weighed 600 grams. Ms Mercer’s boyfriend said she drank “two to three bottles” a day but had reduced her intake in recent weeks.
Ms Mercer recounted an incident in which she lost consciousness, causing a bottle to fall into her lap.
An ambulance then took Ms Mercer to hospital.
Possession of laughing gas for recreational purposes was not considered illegal at the time of the student’s death. However, in November 2023, the government banned its use and classified it as a Class C drug.
