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Student died 'taking party drug' Student died taking "party drug"
(about 3 hours later)
An American footballer has told an inquest into the death of a woman who died after taking the so-called "party drug" GBL how he woke to find her dead. A medical student who took the so-called "party drug" GBL died from misadventure, a coroner has ruled.
Anthony Morrison had spent the previous night with medical student Hester Stewart, 21, at his Brighton home. Hester Stewart, 21, was found dead by her on-off boyfriend Anthony Morrison after consuming Gamma-butyrolactane (GBL) at his Brighton home on 6 April.
He told the inquest at Brighton County Court they had both taken Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) before falling asleep in the early hours of 6 April. He told the inquest at Brighton County Court they had both taken the drug.
The University of Sussex student was aware of its possible effects, he said. Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said she was satisfied Ms Stewart took GBL knowingly and that "on the balance of probabilities" she took it willingly.
Recalling how he woke later that morning to find her dead beside him, Mr Morrison, who was Ms Stewart's on-off boyfriend, said he tried to give her a hug, and realised that she "did not look right". She said: "Whenever drugs such as GBL are used recreationally people need to understand the use of them is very much a question of playing Russian Roulette.
"In other words, it may be possible to survive recreational drugs over a period of time and then for no apparent reason the use of such drugs will result in death."
We were both talking coherently, and she was dancing around Anthony MorrisonWe were both talking coherently, and she was dancing around Anthony Morrison
Ms Hamilton-Deeley added that although she believed Ms Stewart was aware that GBL "might not mix well with alcohol" she was satisfied she did not know the full extent of its impact.
The inquest heard how Mr Morrison woke to find the University of Sussex student dead after trying to give her a hug and realising that she "did not look right".
"I started panicking. I shouted out but there was no response.""I started panicking. I shouted out but there was no response."
Mr Morrison, who played American Football for the university team, told the inquest he bought GBL, which has an industrial use and can be used as paint stripper, over the internet. Mr Morrison bought GBL, which has an industrial use and can be used as paint stripper, over the internet.
Questioned by Ms Stewart's father, Dr Alan Stewart, Mr Morrison said although it was made clear on the internet that GBL was not for human consumption, they had discussed taking it beforehand.Questioned by Ms Stewart's father, Dr Alan Stewart, Mr Morrison said although it was made clear on the internet that GBL was not for human consumption, they had discussed taking it beforehand.
Anthony Morrison bought the drug GBL over the internet
He said Ms Stewart placed a mango in her mouth before ingesting the GBL because of its foul taste and appeared to show no immediate signs to concern him.He said Ms Stewart placed a mango in her mouth before ingesting the GBL because of its foul taste and appeared to show no immediate signs to concern him.
"We were both talking coherently, and she was dancing around," he recalled."We were both talking coherently, and she was dancing around," he recalled.
He said it was the first time she had taken the drug.He said it was the first time she had taken the drug.
'Seemed strange' Consultant histopathologist Dr Andrew Rainey said the cause of death was GBL toxicity and the presence of ethanol.
Consultant histopathologist Dr Andrew Rainey, of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, said the cause of death was GBL toxicity and the presence of ethanol. He said the fact the drug and alcohol had been combined caused her death.
He said the fact that the drug and alcohol had been combined caused her death.
The inquest was told that the level of GBL found in her blood and urine were at the lower end of the scale and in some cases would not have ended in death.The inquest was told that the level of GBL found in her blood and urine were at the lower end of the scale and in some cases would not have ended in death.
It also heard from Ms Stewart's flatmate, Ellie Webber, who said she was "not surprised" that she had taken GBL as she had used recreational drugs, including ecstasy, in the past.
Ms Stewart's older brother, Chesney, echoed the comments, adding that his sister had called him just before 3am on the day she died as she often phoned relatives to tell them she loved them.
Family's campaign
He said she "didn't seem her usual self" and "seemed strange".
Since her death, Ms Stewart's family has led a campaign to press the government to ban GBL in the UK.Since her death, Ms Stewart's family has led a campaign to press the government to ban GBL in the UK.
Last month her mother Maryon Stewart, a nutritionist, met Home Secretary Alan Johnson to ask why the drug had not been classified as recommended by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs last year.
Mr Morrison was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs by Sussex Police but no further action was taken against him in relation to Ms Stewart's death because the purchase and use of GBL is not unlawful.Mr Morrison was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs by Sussex Police but no further action was taken against him in relation to Ms Stewart's death because the purchase and use of GBL is not unlawful.
The pair had met while Ms Stewart was a cheerleader for the university's American Football team. The pair had met while Ms Stewart was a cheerleader for the university's American football team.
The inquest continues. Dr Alan Stewart said lessons should be learned from his daughter's death