Ex-Ibiza dancer accidentally took fatal drug overdose
WOMAN, 42, SUFFERED TERRIBLE BACK PAIN AFTER HORSE RIDING ACCIDENT
AN ex-Ibiza dancer accidentally killed herself after taking an overdose of morphine she used to treat a bad back following a horse riding accident, an inquest heard.
NHS manager Melissa Amos took the powerful painkiller after struggling with spinal problems for two decades.
Despite being on a variety of medication, the 42-year-old mum-of-two obtained morphine through a ‘nonmedical source.’
Mrs Amos’ husband started locking the tablets in a cabinet to stop her from overdosing on them. Last March she sent a friend a text message saying: “I need some medication because my back is f **** d.”
Later that day she was found collapsed on the floor at her Bury home by her husband Philip. Mrs Amos died shortly afterwards. Tests revealed she had taken almost three times the recognised lethal dose of morphine.
Police examined her phone and discovered one of the last messages she received was: “I’ve got morphine and some zoppies.”
Officers suspected ‘zoppies’ referred to the sleeping tablet zopriclone. It is thought the person who supplied the morphine has since died.
At an inquest into Mrs Amos’ death at Rochdale Coroners’ Court, her husband said: “I believe that she didn’t want to end her own life.
“She had her own children and we were trying for a child together. We were meant for each other.”
The inquest was told Mrs Amos, who had two children from a previous relationship, originally lived and worked in Leeds as a manager for a NHS supply chain.
She moved to Bury and married Mr Amos in 2016. He said: “Melissa went abroad to work as a dancer in Ibiza for a year when she was 21 and later suffered a fall from a horse about 20 years ago, which resulted in her having ongoing pain in her lower back. She had a number of seizures and they started in 2016.
“On Saturday, March 10, she was slumped on the floor. She had suffered a seizure. Because of the horse riding fall, she was in a lot of pain and that is why she was taking the morphine. I know that she didn’t want to want to take her own life. She was happy as Larry that day.”
A toxicology report found Mrs Amos had 1,512mg of morphine per litre of blood in her body. As little as 60mg of morphine in a litre of blood can be fatal to people who rarely consume the drug.
Recording a conclusion of drugrelated death, coroner Michael Salt said: “My findings will be that she died of combined drug toxicity, but the toxicology report says that morphine was the major issue.
“I have to say that I don’t consider that she committed suicide and the conclusion that I propose to reach is one of drug-related death.
“My condolences to the family, I can obviously see how much she is missed.”