EVERY PARENT’S NIGHTMARE
Just days after leaving home to start uni, two 18-year-old girls are found dead in suspected drugs horror on campus
TWO students died less than 48 hours after arriving at university in a suspected illegal drugs tragedy.
Jeni Larmour and a fellow fresher, both 18, were found collapsed in their halls of residence at Newcastle. It is believed the girls had taken ketamine.
A 21-year-old at Northumbria University and a man, 18, died after allegedly using MDMA. Police said: “Illegal drugs are never safe. They could cost your life.”
POLICE last night warned students of the dangers of illegal drugs after three died at universities, amid fears lockdown curbs on pubs are sparking more parties in halls of residences.
Jeni Larmour and a fellow fresher, both 18, had only arrived at their colleges less than 48 hours before tragedy struck.
They are believed to have taken ketamine at Newcastle University. A 21-year-old at Northumbria University also died after allegedly using MDMA.
And a man aged 18 from Washington, Tyne and Wear – who was not a student – was feared killed by the same drug.
Jeni’s heartbroken mum Sandra Foster Larmour paid tribute to her daughter. She posted: “My beautiful princess my best friend X.”
A mum dropping off her daughter at Newcastle University talked of how it was every parent’s worst nightmare to hear of such a tragic loss of life.
She added: “It is not what you want to hear on the first day.”
Chief Inspector Steve Wykes of Northumbria Police said: “This weekend we have seen the tragic loss of four young lives. We want to reiterate our warning against taking drugs for recreational use. The consequences could cost you your life. Illegal drugs are never safe.”
One Northumbria student branded the halls “party central” due to the 10pm curfew on pubs. The 21-year-old said: “First years just want to get out and have fun but everything is closed.
“I would not touch any pills. They are putting fentanyl in them which is similar to morphine but 100 times more potent. Xanax is being mixed with MDMA and that is very powerful.”
A fellow student added: “People are going out until 10pm and then they get bored and don’t want the night to end. The shops are shut so they can’t get any alcohol but they still want to go and have a party.
“If you are in a club after 10, it is a controlled environment.” Architecture and urban planning student Jenny, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, died on Saturday. The other 18-year-old girl was found unresponsive 24 hours later in the same hall of residence.
Police were yesterday searching the property. The Northumbria student died in hospital after being taken ill in Newcastle. There had been 10 arrests by last night over the incidents.
A man of 18 and another aged 20 were released on police bail.
Officers said it is “too early to say” if the drugs were part of deadly batches.
Newcastle University said it was “devastated” to learn of the deaths and was offering support to friends and family of the victims. Northumbria, where 770 students have coronavirus and are locked down, was “deeply saddened” over the tragedy.
People are going out until 10pm, get bored and want to party
STUDENT ON HOW CURBS ARE AFFECTING UNI LIFE