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MUM'S WARNING
My girl Ellen Mercer died inhaling 200 bottles of nitrous oxide a day – it should be a class A drug
Student was left unable to walk or go to the toilet after taking so-called "hippy crack"
A MUM has issued a heartbreaking warning after her daughter died inhaling over 200 canisters of nitrous oxide a day.
Ellen Mercer, 24, was left in crippling pain and unable to even go to the toilet before her death in February.
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The business student's mum has now spoken out to warn of the dangers of the drug, which is also known as "hippy crack".
Sharon Cook told The Sun: "If there is one more life that could be saved from your report, then it is all worth it.
"Ellen did not know the dangers of this drug at the time. The message was: it was legal and therefore it's safe.
"The risks of nitrous weren't publicised, now everyone can see the risks involved - just don't do it."
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Her warning comes after Berkshire Coroner Heidi Connor confirmed Ellen's death was related to "nitrous oxide use".
An inquest heard Ellen had required urgent medical care several times in the month leading to her death after complaining of leg and back pain.
She had suffered a B12 deficiency and spinal cord degeneration as a result of long-term nitrous oxide use.
Her left leg was weak and she struggled with tasks involving coordination - such as unbuttoning a shirt.
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Paramedics raced to the business student's home on February 5 to find Ellen with a freeze burn on her leg where a canister had fallen when she collapsed.
Her boyfriend revealed she took two to three 600g bottles of nitrous oxide a day.
Laughing gas left me in a wheelchair for life – don’t make my mistake
The court heard this is the equivalent to around 225 of the regular 8mg metal canisters that are commonly used for laughing gas.
When Ellen’s boyfriend was asked why he didn't call an ambulance when she passed out before, he reportedly said she "shouted at him" as she wanted to continue her high.
But on February 8, she called paramedics herself to complain of shortness of breath, "stabbing pain" in her chest and upper back and falling over when trying to walk.
Ellen was rushed to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire, but tragically died two days later.
Large blood clots had formed in Ellen's legs, which then travelled to the arteries in her lungs.
Hippy crack death
This caused a sudden cardio respiratory collapse - a loss in both blood circulation and breathing.
A post mortem found she died from deep vein thrombosis with an underlying cause of death given as "long term complications due to nitrous oxide abuse".
Recording a narrative conclusion, the coroner said Ellen’s death “highlighted how hugely dangerous it is to use nitrous oxide".
She said: “Ellen’s death was caused by nitrous oxide use and immobility which led to the development of a pulmonary embolism.”
At the time of the tragedy, nitrous oxide — often inhaled through balloons — was not illegal.
Nitrous oxide - the facts
NITROUS oxide - also known as laughing gas or hippy crack - was recently made a Class C due to the dangers associated with the drug.
It can cause a range of health issues and in some cases can even be fatal.
Some common side effects from inhaling the gas are dizziness, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance and weakness in legs, according to a study on its risks published to the .
Nitrous oxide can impair memory and thinking, the research mentioned. Some users might also feel anxious or paranoid.
According to the (ADF), the gas from nitrous oxide bulbs is intensely cold, sometimes as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
Inhaling directly from the canister or crackers - handheld devices used to 'crack' open canister - can cause frostbite on the nose, lips and throat, even the vocal cords.
The icy chill of the gas canisters can also cause cold burns to the hands.
Long term, heavy use of laughing gas can cause a lack of vitamin B12. Severe deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes.
Lack of B12 can also cause damage to the spinal cord.
In some cases, frequent and prolonged use of nitrous oxide has been linked to thromboembolic events - this means a blood clot has gotten stuck and caused an obstruction.
The so-called laughing gas has also resulted in deaths.
It was reclassified in November last year as a Class C drug, with dealers facing up to 14 years in prison.
Ellen's mum is now urging the government to reclassify the drug as a Class A and believes her daughter would still be alive if she was more aware of the dangers associated with it.
Sharon told : "I don't think she realised how dangerous the drug was. As it was legal she was inclined to think it was safe.
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"[The government] needs to come down harder on it and they should definitely make it a Class A drug.
"It is dangerous so it should be up there with heroin and cocaine. Class C is not strong enough in my book."
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