A teenager with a “beautiful soul” died after taking MDMA during a night out with their friends, an inquest heard.
Adrian Watson, 18, had walked home after enjoying a night out with friends in Preston, Lancashire, in June last year, with CCTV showing the teen getting back to their room at supported accommodation at around 2am. Staff initially had no concerns, but when nobody had heard anything from Adrian by the following evening, they grew concerned.
At around 7.30pm staff went into the student’s room and found them dead. An inquest heard last week the level of MDMA – ecstasy – found in Adrian’s system was within that encountered in fatalities attributed to MDMA alone.
Adrian, a student at Cardinal Newman College, had also taken a potentially fatal amount of prescribed medication propranolol although there was no suggestion this was intentional, LancsLive reported. Detective Inspector Amanda Henderson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said: “Adrian attended a music festival in Preston with friends. We ascertained, from speaking to friends, they went back to Merriweather to get changed.
“They then went to Wetherspoons and then went to Warehouse nightclub. Friends described Adrian’s emotions and behaviour as unusual so some of them formed the opinion Adrian had taken MDMA as this had happened on previous occasions.”
Returning a conclusion of misadventure assistant coroner Richard Taylor said: “It appears to me this is someone who has taken more than they would normally take but certainly not with the intention of ending their life. Friends and family will always wonder ‘what if?’ but there can be no criticism of anybody for what happened. Nobody should feel guilty in any way, shape or form. The fact so many people are here today only goes to show how moved and missed they are.”
Patricia Cogley, a friend of Adrian’s, has set up a fundraiser to earn money for the popular teenager’s funeral. She wrote: “The world has lost an absolutely beautiful soul. I’m hoping to help her family towards the enormous costs of organising, paying for and giving their beautiful young family member the send off they want to and also, what Adrian should have. She had her struggles through life, far too many to describe but they absolutely took life by the horns and was at a point of achieving and excelling in their life.
“They were so creative and talented, with music and Art their best loves. They were also BFF to my daughter, who also never felt like she fit in, until meeting Adrian at the age of 14. They shared so very much together. Long talks, laughs, silly photos, crazy nights out but most of all absolutely loved each other, even after a little break in their relationship. They were right back where they’d been. A true sign of friendship!
“I miss Adrian too as despite the age difference, she was my little friend and she knew how proud and how much I loved her. Please donate anything you comfortably can, so this beautiful soul can have the send off they so deserve. Thank you so very very very much for your kindness.”
Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories
