Warning over ecstacy tablets after town drug deaths

Gareth Ashton, 28, who died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday, and 19-year-old Jordan Chambers, who died at Oldham Hospital on Sunday, were described as “apparently fit young men”.

The pair, both from Wigan, were admitted to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell and suffered the same symptoms.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating where the men had been socialising and if they were out together when they took the pills.

Several others went to hospital on Monday suffering similar symptoms but no one is still being treated, said Superintendent Andrea Jones.

A third man, a 26-year-old, died in Liverpool on Sunday and is believed to have taken tablets – possibly ecstasy – before he collapsed. Greater Manchester Police are not currently linking his death to the two in their region, but said they could not discount a connection.

The drugs thought to be contaminated are brightly coloured heart-shaped ecstasy tablets which come in purple, green, red and yellow. Supt Jones urged anyone with information on such pills to come forward to help them with their inquiries.

Toxicology tests are due to take place to establish how Mr Ashton and Mr Chambers died.

Supt Jones said: “Both had taken drugs, admitted to taking drugs, prior to being admitted to hospital, and our concern is that in circulation in the Wigan area, there could be these contaminated drugs.”

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington, from Wigan CID, urged anyone feeling unwell after taking ecstasy pills to go to hospital for a check-up.