Investigation and inquest
On 17 June 2022, I commenced an investigation into the death of Miss Kayleigh Burns. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24th March 2023 at Warwick Coroners Court. The medical cause of death was confirmed as 1a inhalation of Nitrous Oxide compounding Asthma.
Circumstances of the death
Miss Burns was 16 years old and suffered from asthma.
On the 3rd June 2022, Kayleigh visited a friend’s flat in Stratford upon Avon. Whilst there she ingested the contents of a number of nitrous oxide canisters. She started to wheeze and used her blue inhaler. She declined an ambulance and collapsed as she was going outside to get air. An ambulance was called and her friend performed CPR. She was resuscitated but died the next day at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire. The medical cause of death was inhalation of Nitrous Oxide compounding Asthma.
I concluded that her death was drug related (ie inhalation of Nitrous Oxide) in the context of Asthma.
Coroner’s concerns
Whether the present legal framework concerning Nitrous Oxide should be reviewed, in the light of this death, having regard to the seemingly increasing use of Nitrous Oxide particularly by young persons.