Teenager who collapsed at bus shelter dies after buying £10 item online

A teenage girl collapsed and died after taking a chemical substance she got online for online £10, and inquest jury heard.

Chelsea Olivia Blair, 19, died on February 19, 2020, after she was found collapsed at a bus shelter in Seacroft, Leeds, during the early hours of the morning. Police and paramedics attempted to carry out CPR, however she could not be saved and passed away in St James' Hospital.

A post-mortem examination concluded her death was the result of a high level of a chemical compound in her bloodstream. While the chemical's name was released at the inquest, it will not be included in this publication.

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A jury was sworn in at Wakefield Coroner's Court on Monday to examine the circumstances surrounding Chelsea's death. This is because Chelsea was subject to detention under the Mental Health Act and was living at the Becklin Centre - a mental health unit in Leeds.

The hearing heard how Chelsea had a known history of self-harm and overdoses. Her father, Paul, described his daughter as a 'bright and clever girl' who struggled with her mental health since the age of 15.

Chelsea was sectioned at the Becklin Centre for around a year, said Paul, but was allowed home visits. Paul believed Chelsea planned on taking her own life due to the fact she left a number of notes.

He said: "She was always a bright and clever girl. She always thought she was not good enough - she was not happy with anything she did. I think taking her own life was the only way out for her. She is missed by all her family."

Chelsea was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and was treated in hospital a number of times due to harming herself, taking overdoses, and ingesting poisonous substances. On the evening before her death, Chelsea had a conversation with a health worker and disclosed that she brought items which were at her dad's house.

She added that she had 'in mind' the date of February 20 to harm herself, the inquest heard. Chelsea also told the worker that she had found a 'different way' to harm herself and had written 'suicide notes'.

A police investigation uncovered a chemical that cost only £10 and was believed to have been delivered to Paul's house with a PayPal payment date listed days before her death. The online seller was advertising the chemical for sale for a 'legitimate purpose', according to a detective.

Laura Profumo, a barrister acting for Chelsea's mum, put a number of questions to forensic toxicologist Dr Paul Smith. Mr Smith said that Chelsea's death was one of the first cases linked to the substance.

However, from 2020 onwards, there has been an increase in the number of deaths and by 2020 there was 20 cases, possibly as a result of information published on online 'suicide forums'. The hearing was told that Chelsea had regularly gone missing from the Becklin Centre.

The inquest continues.