24-Year-Old UK Student’s Death Linked to Inhaling “Two To Three” Bottles of Laughing Gas Daily

Ellen Mercer, a 24-year-old student, sought help from emergency services due to difficulty walking and falling over. She received treatment at the hospital but passed away approximately 24 hours later. The inquest revealed that nitrous oxide gas, commonly known as laughing gas, was a contributing factor to her death.

A post-mortem examination identified her cause of death as complications related to nitrous oxide use. A medical technician who responded to Ms. Mercer’s residence described the scene as indicative of a vulnerable person. Ms. Mercer had suffered burns on her legs from a gas canister and appeared to be six months pregnant.

She was using two to three bottles of nitrous oxide daily, which led to an incident where she lost consciousness and was transported to the hospital. At the time of her death, the recreational use of laughing gas was not illegal. However, the government later prohibited its use and classified it as a Class C drug in November 2023.