The concerning results of extended laughing gas (nitrous oxide) consumption have come to light during the recent inquest into the sudden death of a 24 year old student Ellen Mercer.
Ellen Mercer’s case unfolded when she was rushed to Wexham Park Hospital Emergency Department after reporting of difficulty in walking and a tendency to trip and fall. After getting treatment at the emergency department at Wexham Park Hospital, she died tragically on February 10 at 12:52 a.m., 24 hours later.
Senior coroner Heidi Connor stated the inquest that she died as a result of “nitrous oxide gas,” also referred to as laughing gas. She was consuming two to three “large bottles” of nitrous oxide daily, a habit that finally proved to be deadly for her. The post-mortem report identified, bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, and “long-term complications of nitrous oxide use” as factors in her death.
The emergency medical technician, Michaela Kirtley, who arrived on the scene, noted an unsettling atmosphere that suggested Ellen’s vulnerability. Ellen was suffering from serious burns on her legs and was unable to walk or use bathrooms for weeks.
In the words of Michaela Kirtley, upon arrival, Ms Mercer’s boyfriend escorted her to the bedroom.
“I took notice of the room,” she said.
“There were no sheets on the bed at all. There was just the duvet, severely stained. The room was bare.”
She said the scene made it clear to her that she was dealing with a “vulnerable person”.
She observed that Ms Mercer was speaking normally and that her heart rate was the only irregular vital indication, possibly due to anxiety. Ms Mercer revealed her that she had burned her legs from spilling a gas canister on them, which stopped her from walking or using the restroom for two weeks. The 24-year-old looked to be six months pregnant, she added. She called Ms Mercer’s leg wounds “pussy” after observing them. Ms Mercer was given a box of gas canisters by her lover, which she identified as nitrous oxide. She stated that the weight of the canisters was 600g during the inquest.
Her boyfriend disclosed that she consumed multiple large bottles of the gas each day, highlighting a dangerous pattern of addiction and dependency. This level of intake undoubtedly contributed to the severe health complications she faced.
It was permitted to possess laughing gas for recreational purposes at the time of her death. But in November 2023, the government moved to address growing concerns about its usage, banning its possession for recreational purposes and categorizing it as a Class C Drug.
