The pathologist who examined Georgia Jones (pictured) was stunned at the ‘extremely high’ levels of MDMA found in her body
A teenager who took two ‘double-strength’ ecstasy tablets at a music festival died after fitting for 50 minutes, an inquest has heard.
The pathologist who examined Georgia Jones was stunned at the ‘extremely high’ levels of MDMA found in her body.
Georgia and Tommy Cowan, 20, both died at Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth after taking drugs at the event headlined by rapper Dizzee Rascal.
They did not know each other but both fell ill around the same time, the inquest was told.
A detective investigating her death told the inquest it is ‘almost impossible to identify the person that supplied the pills’ following her death on May 26.
Georgia’s devastated sister Danielle, who went to the festival with her, told the hearing she found her ‘fitting’ on the floor.
Danielle said friends described seeing Georgia, who also had a bag of MDMA in the form of powder in her bumbag, ‘stumbling around’ and ‘slurring her words’.
Hours after she and Tommy Cowan died, the dance festival was cancelled.
Detective Constable Sharon Lewry said that Georgia suffered a cardiac arrest at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.
He told the inquest: ‘A consultant at the hospital said the fit went on for 50 minutes.
A detective investigating the death of Georgia (pictured) told the inquest it is ‘almost impossible to identify the person that supplied the pills’ following her death on May 26
‘Georgia had taken two tablets not knowing they were double-strength and had more MDMA in her bag.
‘We were told she had taken two pills but it could have been more. It’s almost impossible to identify the person that supplied the pills to her.
‘Danielle said Georgia was meeting friends who were not arriving until later. Danielle later met up with Georgia with someone she does not know.
‘Danielle saw Georgia by the ice cream van and told us “Georgia looked f***ed”. She told her “sort yourself out”.’
DC Lewry said Georgia, who had a mutual friend with Mr Cowan, had been with a young man, however they have been unable to identify him.
Pathologist Brett Lockyer said Georgia, a care assistant, had a temperature of 105F (41C) when she arrived at hospital and died from ‘MDMA intoxication’.
He added: ‘Georgia had 3,856 nanograms of MDMA per millilitre of blood in her body, which is extremely high.
‘MDMA is not a very nice drug. It caused haemorrhaging on her heart and brain. Had she survived this she would not have been the same person as before.
‘When she went into her seizure she would not have known what was going on, so although seeing her was distressing for the family she would not have known.’
Hours after Georgia and Tommy Cowan (pictured) died, the dance festival was cancelled
Georgia’s tearful mother Janine Milburn paid tribute to her daughter at the inquest.
Ms Milburn, 41, said: ‘She was a typical teenager; talkative, stubborn and argumentative but very caring and family-and-friends-orientated.
‘This was the second time she had been to a festival as she went to Mutiny the year before.
‘She had got into the wrong crowd after school and I was aware she had done drugs but she sorted herself out and started working at a care home which she loved.
Georgia and Tommy Cowan, 20, both died at Mutiny Festival (pictured) in Portsmouth after taking drugs at the event headlined by rapper Dizzee Rascal
‘I knew she hadn’t touched drugs for six months before this. On the day of the festival she got ready at home with Danielle and was excited.’
Portsmouth Coroner’s Court heard Georgia had been ‘excited’ about Mutiny Festival and got ready with Danielle at their home in Havant, Hants.
Danielle struggled to fight back tears during the hearing. She said: ‘At the festival she came up to me and was gurning so I asked her what she had taken.
‘The next time I saw her was when she was on the floor.’
Friend Megan McGraw said: ‘I remember seeing her stumbling around, I could tell she was gone.
‘She was oblivious to everything and had white patches on her face. I’ve never seen anything like that, then she just fell.’
Five people were arrested in connection with drugs supply at Mutiny, however they were all released under investigation.
The inquest has been adjourned until tomorrow. Mr Cowan’s inquest will take place Wednesday.
DC Lewry said Georgia, who had a mutual friend with Mr Cowan (pictured), had been with a young man, however they have been unable to identify him