Anthony Peter Kristian Garrett · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 5th November 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Anthony Peter Kristian Garrett, born on the 11th July 1979.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 10th April 2015.

The Medical Cause of Death was

1a Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy
1b Toxicity from alcohol and synthetic cannabinoids

The conclusion of the inquest was that Anthony Peter Kristian Garrett died as a consequence of a combination of alcohol consumption and misuse of synthetic cannabinoids.

On the 30th October 2014 Mr Garrett, who had been drinking alcohol throughout the day, was seen to smoke from a pipe which contained a substance called Cherry Bomb, at around lunchtime that day. Cherry Bomb is a substance that is sold as herbal incense, and is commonly referred to as a legal high. As soon as Mr Garrett had smoked this substance he was seen to collapse. Although he was initially thought to be asleep, it was soon established that he was unconscious, and the North West Ambulance Service was contacted. He was transported to the Royal Bolton Hospital, but sadly he never regained consciousness, and died the following day.

1. During the inquest evidence was heard that:

i. Following toxicological analysis upon Mr Garrett’s blood, which was taken Post Mortem, there was found to be the presence of a compound known as STS-135, which indicated the use of synthetic cannabinoids prior to Mr Garrett’s death. This is a compound that may be marketed as herbal incense.

ii. Cherry Bomb is a substance that is marketed as herbal incense and although it is sold with a warning that it is not for human consumption, it is a substance that is misused by people who smoke it. Cherry Bomb was the substance that Mr Garrett was seen to smoke immediately before his collapse, and so is believed to have contained the compound STS-135, the synthetic cannabinoid that was found within his post mortem blood.

iii. This use of synthetic cannabinoids, together with the consumption of alcohol led to Mr Garrett’s death, however it was felt that it was the synthetic cannabinoid which had caused the sudden collapse, as the substance is known to cause irregular heartbeats, and can therefore trigger a fatal arrhythmia.

iv. Although the death was a combination of the alcohol and synthetic cannabinoid, it was confirmed that the synthetic cannabinoid in itself is dangerous and potentially harmful and the effects of the substance are unpredictable.

2. I have concerns that Synthetic Cannabinoids are readily available substances in the community, which are legally and commonly sold as herbal incense. They are sold with a warning that they are not for human consumption, but are misused and consumed by people. Consequently they can be dangerous and potentially life threatening to those who use them in this way.

3. I therefore request that the above concerns are considered and a review is undertaken regarding the status and control of these dangerous substances.