Coach Road Estate residents' shock at drug death after Washington 18-year-old and three university students die in one weekend

Residents have spoken of their shock and fears after drug death of teenager on their estate.
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Police were called to the Coach Road Estate in Washington, just before 3.50pm on Saturday, October 3 to assist an 18-year-old man, who had reportedly fallen ill after taking MDMA.

He was pronounced dead and the teenager’s death was one of four apparently drug-related deaths in the region over the weekend after two 18-year-old female Newcastle University students were found dead, having apparently ketamine, and a 21-year-old male Northumbria University student died after reportedly also taking MDMA.

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A total of eleven arrests have now been made as inquiries into the deaths continue and neighbours have been left shocked by the teenager’s death.

The teenager died on SaturdayThe teenager died on Saturday
The teenager died on Saturday

Vicky Hannington is mum to 17-year-old Dylan and 15-year-old Jessica, she said: “It is very frightening.

"I do worry about it. My son is almost 18 and my daughter is 16 soon. They are autistic, so they are not going to be out partying, but if they were I would be really worried.”

Vicky, 41, said she walked past the flat where the dead teenager was found shortly after the police arrived on Saturday afternoon.

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She said: “There were four police cars and as I was walking through the estate, there was another police car and a police van driving around. I thought they were patrolling the Coach Road.”

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One lady who lives opposite the flat described seeing several people being brought out, apparently under arrest.

She said: "We did not see much but there were three ambulances and four police cars. There were two or three lads brought out in handcuffs and a girl as well. Then they were just sat in the car.

"Our reaction was just disbelief really – you can’t believe that something like this can happen on your doorstep. We feel heartbroken for his parents.”

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Residents say the estate has a few minor social disorder problems but was usually pretty quiet.

One lady said: “We just keep ourselves to ourselves.

"It is absolutely disgusting what has happened – a young man just starting his life. People sell this stuff just so they can make money.

"It’s not right."

Another added: “I feel so sad – I feel sorry for his parents.”

Northumbria Police has said investigations are ongoing.

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