Woman, 20, ‘died after sniffing dangerous party drug’

Aimee Jade Costello, 20, who lived with her parents in Leeds, died last April after sniffing the banned stimulant M-cat with friends.

Ms Costello went to a friend’s home after a night out in the city, a West Yorkshire Coroners’ Court official said following the inquest in Leeds.

“She and three friends stayed up throughout the night and the day during which time she periodically sniffed the illicit drug M-cat,” the official added. “Shortly before 7pm she lost consciousness and began convulsing.”

An ambulance was called but despite resuscitation efforts by paramedics and at hospital, Ms Costello was pronounced dead at 8.40pm on April 4 2012 at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds.

West Yorkshire assistant deputy coroner Kevin McLoughlin said the sad case highlighted the very real dangers of the drug, which was initially distributed as a so-called legal high before it was banned in 2010 following calls from campaigners.

He recorded a verdict of death by non-dependent abuse of drugs.

M-cat, also known as meow meow, is used as an alternative to amphetamine or harder drugs.