Biggest ecstasy overdose ever killed student

A 17-year-old student who collapsed at a party died of the largest overdose of the drug ecstasy ever recorded, an inquest heard today.

Jack Elliott was found dead the morning after the party at a friend's home in Curdridge, near Southampton. Today an inquest heard how friends said they believed he had taken at least 11 tablets.

A post-mortem revealed his blood contained 10,420 milligrammes of ecstacy per litre - the highest level of the drug in any fatality previously recorded was 7,720 milligrammes per litre, when an abuser had allegedly taken 42 tablets. Mid-Hampshire Coroner's Court in Winchester heard Jack had been "determined" to get the drug for the evening out on 29 May last year.

He bought 20 tablets with his friend James Bush, but sold five. Before he died he had drunk four whiskys and a pint of lager, and smoked cannabis.

Pathologist Dr Adman al-Badri said the cause of death was multiple organ failure due to an ecstasy overdose. Coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of accidental death, adding: "It was a tragic waste of a young life."

Jack, who lived in Curdridge with his parents Timothy and Rachel Elliott, had been studying A-levels at Peter Symonds College in Winchester, and was due to go to university.

James Bush will appear in court on Friday charged with possessing drugs. Another man will appear charged with selling ecstasy.