Shrewsbury woman dies after taking diet pills
A 21-year-old woman from Shrewsbury has died after taking what police believe are diet pills, bought over the internet.
Eloise Aimee Parry fell ill after taking the pills, which were today described as "toxic and very dangerous".
Police today warned women not to buy pills online after launching an investigation.
The 21-year-old died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on April 12.
The pills are believed to contain a substance called dinitrophenol or DNP.
The inquest into Eloise's death has been opened and adjourned until July 2 by the coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, John Ellery.
Miss Parry was a student at Glyndwr University in Wrexham and was on course to study a masters when she finished her degree.
Her family made a plea to other young women to learn from Miss Parry's mistake.
Eloise's mother Fiona said she had taken the pills unaware that an overdose could kill her.
She said: "The drug was in her system, there was no antidote. Two tablets was a lethal dose – and she had taken eight. She never intended to take her own life. She just never really understood how dangerous the tablets were.
"There were so many things that she dreamed of doing – travelling, having a career and having a family – things that she never got a chance to experience."
West Mercia Police is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of Eloise's death and today gave a stark reminder to the public of the dangers of buying substances online.
Chief Inspector Jennifer Mattinson, said: "We are undoubtedly concerned over the origin and sale of these pills and are working with partner agencies to establish where they were bought from and how they were advertised.
"A coroner's report will establish the exact cause of Eloise's death but we urge the public to be incredibly careful when purchasing medicine or supplements over the internet."
