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'Mortal Kombat' drug link probed after teenager dies in Glasgow 'Mortal Kombat' drug link probed after teenager dies in Glasgow
(about 7 hours later)
A drugs warning has been issued after a 17-year-old girl collapsed at a Glasgow nightclub and later died.A drugs warning has been issued after a 17-year-old girl collapsed at a Glasgow nightclub and later died.
The teenager, who has been named on social media as Regane MacColl, became ill at The Arches on Saturday night.The teenager, who has been named on social media as Regane MacColl, became ill at The Arches on Saturday night.
She died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Sunday.She died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Sunday.
Four other people also became ill in separate incidents in Glasgow and Ayrshire. Police said a red 'Mortal Kombat' tablet with a dragon stamp on it could be the common link. Four other people also became ill in separate incidents in Glasgow and Ayrshire. Police said a red "Mortal Kombat" tablet with a dragon stamp on it could be the common link.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish exactly how Ms MacColl, from Clydebank, died.A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish exactly how Ms MacColl, from Clydebank, died.
Another woman and three men were also taken to hospital in separate incidents in Glasgow and Ayrshire, as they began to feel unwell after taking drugs. 'Inherently unsafe'
The woman, aged 19, was admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the men, aged 18, 26 and 27, were admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. In other suspected drug-taking incidents, a 19-year-old woman was admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the men, aged 18, 26 and 27, were admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.
Det Insp Sharon MacGregor said: "Illicit drugs are unstable, unpredictable and extremely dangerous as this outcome shows, often the content of the drugs is unknown but they could contain dangerous chemicals and people need to understand the devastating effect they can have. Initial investigations have suggested that a red Mortal Kombat tablet, with a dragon stamped on it, could be the common link.
"I would strongly advise people to avoid illicit drugs and report any information to the police." Supt Alan Cunningham, of Police Scotland, dismissed suggestions that a rogue batch could be to blame and said there were safety issues with all illegal drugs.
James Stevenson, an accident and emergency consultant with Ayrshire and Arran, added: "People who choose to take drugs are playing Russian roulette with their life. "The reality is that no illicit drugs are safe, they are inherently unsafe," he said.
"They have no way of knowing what they are taking, and as a result, some of them will die. "You don't know what the manufacturing process is. You can't believe, quite frankly, what anyone tells you around that process of what the contents are.
"I would appeal to young people, don't believe what you're being told by someone giving you drugs - there's no such thing as a safe, illicit drug, you could be swallowing anything." "So, our advice is, don't take any of these substances."
'Family condolences'
Following reports of Ms MacColl's death, The Arches nightclub said it was assisting police with their inquiries.
In a statement, the venue said: "The Arches are deeply saddened by events that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.
"First and foremost our sincere condolences go to the young woman's family.
"We are working closely with Police Scotland to assist them in any way we can with their inquiries into the circumstances of this tragic incident."
Dr Alastair Ireland, clinical director of emergency medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary - where Ms MacColl died - warned people about the dangers of taking Mortal Kombat pills and other illegal drugs.
"We are deeply concerned about people taking this dangerous drug and cannot stress enough the effects they can cause including death," he said.
"I would urge anyone who has taken one of these tablets and begins to feel unwell to seek immediate medical help."
In the past year, various agencies and police forces across the UK have issued alerts about substances which contain para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA).
PMA is chemically similar to MDMA - ecstasy - and it is often sold as such. It is, however, much more toxic.
Dozens of deaths in the UK have been linked to the drug, a standard dose of which can be five-to-10 times stronger than ecstasy.
Carol Kelly, chief executive of drugs information and support charity Crew 2000, said illegal drugs such as the Mortal Kombat pills - which are thought to contain PMA - could cause life-threatening episodes.
She explained: "You could have irregular heartbeat. You could have difficulties associated with circulation.
"You can also, as a result of PMA, overheat very rapidly and that is a known cause of death amongst people who have consumed these substances."