Mother Dies After Taking Ecstasy at Music Festival, Inquest Reveals

Stephanie Thorpe, a 32-year-old mother from Farnworth, Bolton, tragically died after taking half an ecstasy tablet and attending the Restricted Forest Festival at Witton Park, Blackburn, on June 25, 2022. The inquest into her death revealed that her temperature had soared to 41.6°C, a condition deemed 'unsurvivable', leading to her passing at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

According to the inquest, Thorpe was seen taking the half-tablet at a pub before the festival, and she collapsed around 6:30 pm that evening. Despite being taken to the hospital, her organs had already started to fail, and she was later pronounced dead. The coroner's investigation found that multiple factors, including dehydration, alcohol consumption, and the hot environment, contributed to Thorpe's death.

Thorpe's partner, Carl Pendlebury, said they went to the festival with a group of around 50 friends. He described her as a lively and loving person who enjoyed dancing and socializing. Toxicology reports found active breakdown products of cocaine and ecstasy in Thorpe's blood, which likely contributed to her tragic passing.

Why this matters: Thorpe's death highlights the dangers associated with drug use at music festivals and the importance of ensuring the safety of attendees. The incident has prompted the coroner to prepare a 'Prevention of Future Deaths' report to make festivals safer and encourage festival-goers to be cautious when using substances like ecstasy.

The inquest heard that Thorpe had previously taken pills at dance events without incident. However, the combination of factors, including dehydration, alcohol, and the hot environment, led to her untimely death. The organizers of the Restricted Forest Festival have since canceled this year's Blackburn event and plan to hold it in Liverpool instead, as a mark of respect for Thorpe and her family.

The coroner emphasized the importance of hydration and the risks associated with ecstasy use at such events. "People go to these festivals for a good time, to have fun, dance, and socialize, but they don't realize the dangers involved," the coroner stated. "It's critical that festival-goers take it gently when using ecstasy and ensure they stay hydrated throughout the event."

Key Takeaways

• Stephanie Thorpe, 32, died after taking half an ecstasy tablet at a festival.
• Her temperature reached 41.6°C, leading to organ failure and death at the hospital.
• Dehydration, alcohol, and hot environment contributed to her tragic passing.
• The festival organizers canceled the event and plan to hold it in Liverpool.
• Coroner emphasizes risks of ecstasy use and importance of hydration at festivals.