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Teen thought to have inhaled laughing gas at London party dies Teenager dies 'after taking laughing gas' at party in south-east London
(35 minutes later)
A teenager believed to have taken laughing gas at a party has died. A teenager has died after being found collapsed in a street in south-east London, with police saying he is believed to have taken nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, at a party beforehand.
The 18-year-old was taken to hospital after he collapsed in the street in Bexley, south-east London, at 11.18pm on Saturday but died two hours later. The alert was raised shortly after 11pm on Saturday when police and ambulance crews were called to Wolvercote Road, a residential street in Bexley, to find an 18-year-old man in cardiac arrest.
Police said the teen was believed to have attended a party where he may have been drinking alcohol as well as ingesting legal high nitrous oxide. The teenager was taken to hospital in a critical condition, police said. He was pronounced dead at 1.30am on Sunday.
He was in cardiac arrest when officers arrived at the scene in Wolvercote Road. The Metropolitan police said: “Next of kin have been notified. A postmortem will be scheduled in due course. The Metropolitan police said the man is believed to have ingested nitrous oxide and alcohol at a party. His next of kin have been notified.
“At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained pending the findings of the postmortem.” A Met statement said: “A post-mortem will be scheduled in due course. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained pending the findings of the post-mortem. Enquiries continue.”
Research published earlier this year showed there had been a rise in the recreational use of nitrous oxide, known by various names including “hippie crack”.Research published earlier this year showed there had been a rise in the recreational use of nitrous oxide, known by various names including “hippie crack”.
It is not illegal to be in possession of the substance, although it is prohibited from being sold in England and Wales to under-18s if there is a risk they will inhale it. The gas can make people feel relaxed, euphoric and giggly, leading to the nickname laughing gas. It is usually inhaled through balloons.It is not illegal to be in possession of the substance, although it is prohibited from being sold in England and Wales to under-18s if there is a risk they will inhale it. The gas can make people feel relaxed, euphoric and giggly, leading to the nickname laughing gas. It is usually inhaled through balloons.
Abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and even heart attacks.Abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and even heart attacks.
The research by respiratory consultant and neonatal paediatrician Dr Paul Seddon found that 7.6% of 16- to 24-year-olds in England and Wales have admitted to having tried balloons, which were described as “widely available” in shops that sell legal highs.The research by respiratory consultant and neonatal paediatrician Dr Paul Seddon found that 7.6% of 16- to 24-year-olds in England and Wales have admitted to having tried balloons, which were described as “widely available” in shops that sell legal highs.
Seventeen people in Britain died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the legal high.Seventeen people in Britain died between 2006 and 2012 after taking the legal high.