This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-22284433
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Sun bed death not linked to banned tanning jabs | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A woman's death in a sun bed shop was not linked to her use of banned tanning injections, an inquest jury has ruled. | |
Jenna Wilson-Vickers, 26, was found unconscious in the cubicle of the Tantastic tanning salon in Bolton, Lancashire, in September. | Jenna Wilson-Vickers, 26, was found unconscious in the cubicle of the Tantastic tanning salon in Bolton, Lancashire, in September. |
She had apparently been injecting Melanotan II into her stomach for weeks as well as using sun beds excessively, Bolton Coroner's Court heard. | |
But the inquest found she died from heart failure linked to obesity. | |
Miss Wilson-Vickers had struggled with her weight and was 25st (350lbs) at the time of her death. | |
A pathologist told the inquest that while medical research into Melanotan II was limited, in his opinion it had nothing to do with her death. | |
'No evidence' | |
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said Melanotan works by increasing the levels of melanin, the body's natural protection from the sun. | The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said Melanotan works by increasing the levels of melanin, the body's natural protection from the sun. |
However, it is not licensed and has not been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness so it is not known what the possible side-effects are or how serious they could be. | |
Pathologist Dr Patrick Waugh told the jury: "It remains that there is insufficient information in respect of Melanotan II to allow any realistic assessment of its significance in the death of Jenna. | |
"The possibility of adverse reaction to Melanotan can't be excluded, but there is no evidence to suggest it does. | |
"I can't link it to the medical cause of death. The literature is not there or substantiates a causal link to sudden death. | |
"I would say it has nothing to do with her death, that would be my conclusion." | |
Miss Wilson-Vickers' mother, Shirley Mather, said she knew about the injections and had taken her daughter to the tanning shop about twice a week in the previous three months. | |
Website closed down | |
Records showed on the day Miss Wilson-Vickers died, she was having her third 12-minute tanning session in three days. | Records showed on the day Miss Wilson-Vickers died, she was having her third 12-minute tanning session in three days. |
Ms Mathers said: "About two weeks before, she just said she has not got any pigment in her skin, 'That's why I'm taking these injections, so I went brown on the sun beds'." | |
On the morning of her death, Mrs Mather said she took her daughter to a chemist to get a box for used needles. | On the morning of her death, Mrs Mather said she took her daughter to a chemist to get a box for used needles. |
She then drove her to Tantastic and waited outside in the car, going inside when she did not return as usual. | She then drove her to Tantastic and waited outside in the car, going inside when she did not return as usual. |
Shop manager Lisa Rourke had already found Miss Vickers-Wilson collapsed in the stand-up tanning cabinet, describing her as limp and "clammy" with mottled skin. | Shop manager Lisa Rourke had already found Miss Vickers-Wilson collapsed in the stand-up tanning cabinet, describing her as limp and "clammy" with mottled skin. |
When paramedics arrived she was declared dead at the scene. | When paramedics arrived she was declared dead at the scene. |
Det Con Joanne Lally, of Greater Manchester Police, said a vial of Melanotan II found in Miss Wilson-Vickers' bedroom had been purchased from a website called Totally Tanning. | |
The person running the website was given a caution and the site closed down, she said. | |