Two Bailed After Wigan Drugs Deaths
23 January 2013, 07:13 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
Two men have been bailed after being arrested by police investigating the deaths of two people who may have taken contaminated ecstasy tablets.
Greater Manchester Police say they have released the men, aged 33 and 34, on bail after they were arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.
It comes after police warned that a contaminated batch of ecstasy tablets could be circulating following the deaths of the two "apparently fit young men'' from the same town.
28 year old Gareth Ashton, died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday, and 19 year old Jordan Chambers, died at Oldham Hospital on Sunday.
The pair, both from Wigan, admitted to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell and suffered the same symptoms.
Both said they had taken drugs.
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 yesterday suffering similar symptoms, but all have been released, 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.
Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington, from Wigan CID, said he was concerned there could be further deaths if the drugs continue to circulate in the area and urged anyone feeling unwell after taking ecstasy pills to go to hospital for a check-up.
He said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred. The 26-year-old who died in Liverpool is not thought to be from the Merseyside area."
Anyone with information can phone police on 0161 856 7149 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
