Shrewsbury's Eloise Parry honoured for her university work after tragic diet pill death
The family of a 21-year-old woman who died after taking diet pills have accepted a posthumous award for the work she completed during her university studies.
Eloise Parry, from Shrewsbury, had been studying for an honours degree in families and childhood studies at Glyndwr University in Wrexham when she died in April 2015.
She was yesterday posthumously awarded a diploma of higher education in families and childhood studies – on the day she would have celebrated completing her full degree.
It was presented to her mother Fiona in a ceremony at the university's William Aston Hall.
Following her death in hospital an inquest was told that Eloise – who had struggled with an eating disorder – had taken unlicensed diet tablets, containing an industrial chemical, bought on the internet.
The coroner, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, wrote to the Government backing police and other agencies who want a crackdown on the sale of the pills.
Mrs Parry said: "Like every young person, Eloise was a complex and vibrant individual with many divergent aspects to her persona. She was capable of being both serious and funny, studious and trivial, sociable and private. A very ordinary person – but special to everyone who knew and loved her.
"It is important to focus on the good and positive aspects of her life, and not to dwell on the bad things. Remembering and celebrating her achievements is immensely helpful. It gives her life meaning.
"I am grateful the university has recognised Eloise with a posthumous award. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work that she had completed."
She also thanked Glyndwr University for supporting Eloise through her studies.
Ruth Davies, senior lecturer in early childhood studies, taught Eloise at the university and said she always found time to help others.
"Ella was a vivacious, intelligent, diligent and kind person," she said. "While studying on the BA (Hons) Families and Childhood Studies programme Ella always participated fully in her studies, ensuring her work was to a very high standard."
