York Girl Collapsed After Taking ‘Paste'

25 April 2012, 16:22 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

An inquest into the death a York teenager revealed she took a ‘paste’ type drug before collapsing.

Police said Poppy Rodgers, who died early on Friday, took a “yellow-white” paste thought to contain amphetamine.

The inquest into the 16 year old's death was opened and adjourned today by York coroner Donald Coverdale.

The youngster's parents, Ann and Mark, listened as Mr Coverdale read a brief statement outlining the facts as he opened the inquest in his office in York.

He said Poppy had “taken something” on the evening on April 19 and shortly afterwards she became unwell and slurred her speech. “She collapsed and became unresponsive. Paramedics attended promptly,” he told the parents.

He said she was rushed to York District Hospital but Poppy was confirmed dead in the early hours of April 20.

The inquest heard the teenager lived at Long Marston near York but had recently been staying with friends in the city in Tang Hall Lane.

The coroner said further tests were needed to determine the cause of Poppy's death. He also said police inquiries were ongoing and adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

Earlier Poppy's parents paid tribute to their daughter in a statement issued through North Yorkshire Police. They said: “Poppy was a bright, young girl with the world ahead of her. She had a personality that charmed everyone and from a very young age put a smile on the face of everyone who met her.”

A 21 year old man, also believed to have taken the substance, was discharged from York District Hospital. A 23 year old man and a 26 year old woman, both from York, were arrested in connection with the investigation and were bailed on Saturday.