Latest news with #drugrelateddeath
Sky News
28-05-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Mother of British woman found dead in Bangkok hotel room accuses Thai police of 'cover-up'
The mother of a British woman who was found dead alongside her partner in a Bangkok hotel has accused Thai police of a "cover-up". Rebecca Turner and her boyfriend Sam Melnick were found dead on the floor of her room by hotel staff on 15 March last year. They had unwittingly taken a fatal mixture of drugs, an inquest heard. Ms Turner's parents said their 36-year-old daughter, from Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, thought she was taking cocaine on the night before she died. However, the mixture she took actually contained morphine, codeine and several other substances, the inquest was told. Anita Turner has travelled to Thailand three times since her daughter's death, and plans to go out again next month. Speaking outside East Sussex Coroner's Court, she warned other travellers against taking drugs abroad and criticised Thailand's police force. She said: "They [Thai police] promised me details in six months' time and that was about eight months ago. I'm still waiting. "All the police try to do is just cover it up and they got mad at me one day because I told them that and they told me I was lying. "There is a text message [from Rebecca] talking about a little bit of cocaine. She thought it was cocaine." During her trips, Anita Turner has continued the charity work her daughter had begun. She described her daughter as "fun, bubbly, always partying, always laughing, always smiling". Assistant coroner Laura Bradford recorded a conclusion of a drug-related death and said the medical cause of death was drug toxicity. The coroner said there was "no evidence to suggest she was intending to die", adding: "I have evidence from Rebecca's family that her mental health was stable and her mood was in fact good."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Police watchdog probes death of man who 'swallowed drugs' during search
The police watchdog has begun investigating the death of a man who died shortly after he swallowed a suspected package of drugs while he was stopped and searched by 40-year-old man was "briefly handcuffed before he managed to swallow a package in his possession, and shortly after he became unwell", the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. He died in hospital after being approached by officers on Stratford Road, Chester at about 11:30 BST on 8 May. The IOPC is appealing for any witnesses to the incident, after receiving a mandatory referral from Cheshire Police. IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: "Our team has been in contact with the family to explain our role, offer support and to outline the next steps of our independent investigation."Any loss of life is a tragedy, and our investigation will be thorough and independent to ensure we understand the circumstances that led up to the death. "If you believe you have any information, or footage of the interaction with police, I urge you to get in touch." The IOPC said the man was stopped and searched, during which he managed to swallow a package and then became tried to revive him while the paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead later that afternoon in hospital.A spokesman for the watchdog said: "During our initial enquiries, we are aware there will be witnesses who saw the man being stopped by officers on Stratford Road. "We believe people who may have witnessed the interaction with officers may be able to assist with our enquiries."The officers involved have given their accounts, and investigators were examining body-worn video footage and CCTV, the IOPC said. A post-mortem has been carried out but the cause of the man's death is still yet to be determined. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
