Death of woman who died after taking drugs at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park festival a ‘tragic accident’, coroner rules
Amy Vigus Picture: Family Handout/PA Wire - Credit: PA
A “beautiful and intelligent” young woman died after taking MDMA at a music festival in a tragic accident, an inquest heard.
Amy Vigus died after ingesting a pill containing the drug, also known as ecstasy, at the Elrow Town festival in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Her friends said she swallowed an “MD ball” which she had bought from a man at the event and collapsed hours later, Essex Coroner’s Court heard.
The 20-year-old made it back to her family home in Colchester where her parents tried to resuscitate her before she was taken to hospital and died on August 21.
A post-mortem examination found she died from a hypoxic brain injury caused by the toxic effects of MDMA, the inquest heard.
You may also want to watch:
Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded that Miss Vigus died as the result of an accident.
“What a tragic accident,” she said. “She went off in probably an excellent mood with her friends for a happy day at the festival and it ended like that.”
Most Read
- 1 Jailed man caught with knife in Stratford to be handed court order
- 2 Cause of death remains unknown after body found in disused Forest Gate pub
- 3 Worshippers at mosque in Upton Park aim to raise £35k for Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal 2021
- 4 Body found in derelict pub in Forest Gate
- 5 Hundreds arrested after police crackdown on county lines
- 6 Forest Gate triple shooting: 'Safety is everybody's business,' councillor says
- 7 Man given community order for 26 counts of criminal damage after scratching name into property
- 8 Tom Hiddleston to appear as MCM Comic Con returns to ExCeL London in Royal Docks
- 9 Thames Barrier closing for 200th time amid potential east London flooding
- 10 Newham mathematician to fill in for Countdown presenter and expectant mum Rachel Riley
The hearing was packed with Miss Vigus’s relatives and friends, including her parents, sister and boyfriend.
Many of them wept as parts of a family tribute statement were read out.
It described Miss Vigus as “always up for a challenge” and someone who “lived life to the full” and had a passion for helping others, including a charity skydive.
“Amy was beautiful, intelligent, honest, thoughtful and determined,” it added. “A little whirlwind that would light up any room she walked into.”
