Girl who survived liver cancer as a child died from drugs overdose
A SCHOOLGIRL who survived liver cancer as a toddler died after taking a lethal cocktail of ecstasy and cocaine, an inquest heard.
Sherie-Lea James, 15, “thought she was enjoying herself” when she took the drugs but went into cardiac arrest and could not be saved, Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford heard on Friday.
The teenager, from Basildon, was at a party at a flat in South Ockendon near Grays, Essex, when she became unwell.
She was taken to Basildon University Hospital where she died on September 1 2016.
Essex area coroner Eleanor McGann said: “Sadly, like many young people, Sherie-Lea had voluntarily taken some drugs.”
A post-mortem examination concluded that Sherie-Lea died of MDMA intoxication with cocaine. MDMA is more commonly known as ecstasy.
DCI Stephen Jennings of Essex Police said nobody had been charged with any offence leading to Sherie-Lea’s death.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but face no further action.
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the same pair with unlawful supply. There are currently no proceedings.
The inquest heard the quantity of ecstasy was such that it could have killed Sherie-Lea on its own.
DCI Jennings said: “The levels of the MDMA were considerably higher but that, with the combination of the cocaine, was the cause of death.”
Ms McGann said: “This is very sad. A young girl who just thought she was enjoying herself – but sadly there are many young people who take these drugs thinking it’s just a bit of fun.
“But in the end it has absolutely tragic consequences and I hope other young people will think about the consequences that may come from taking illegal drugs.”
She recorded a conclusion that Sherie-Lea’s death was drug-related. Sherie-Lea’s mother Sam and one of her brothers attended the inquest and made no comment afterwards.