ALERT OVER £3 ‘SUICIDE DRUG'

Coroner’s warning after 6 die

- Amy Sharpe

A CORONER has demanded eBay takes action over a £3.49 “suicide drug” after it was linked to six deaths.

The alert – the second such warning over the substance – was issued after an inquest into the death of Jason Thompson, who took it 12 days after buying it on the shopping site.

It is legal to buy and is normally used in meat production but is touted as a suicide method in online forums. Jason, 49, is one of six people to have died through its use since 2019.

Leslie Hamilton, the assistant coroner for Co Durham and Darlington, contacted eBay to warn “future deaths will occur unless action is taken”.

He also wrote to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the manufacturer of the substance.