Seven arrests made in connection with teenager's suspected drug death in Washington as police investigate four suspected drug deaths across region

The teenager is one of four young people in the North East who tragically lost their lives over the weekend after reportedly consuming drugs.

A large-scale investigation is now ongoing after two men, aged 18 and 21, and two 18-year-old women were found unresponsive at addresses over the weekend – with drugs suspected to have been a factor in their deaths.

So far 10 people have been arrested.

Just before 3.50pm on Saturday, October 3, police were called to report of a cardiac arrest at a property on the Coach Road Estate in Washington.

An 18-year-old man had allegedly taken MDMA and fallen ill. Officers and emergency services attended but the man, who is not a university student, was pronounced dead a short time after.

Seven people were arrested in connection with this incident and have since been released under investigation.

Hours earlier, shortly after 6.05am on Saturday, police had been called to the first report where an unresponsive woman was found at an address on Richardson Road.

The 18-year-old, who was a student at Newcastle University, is believed to have taken a quantity of ketamine and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An 18-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of supplying a Class B drug and has since been released on police bail.

The following day (Sunday, October 4) officers were then alerted to a report that a 21-year-old student from Northumbria University had taken ill at an address on Melbourne Street, Newcastle, at 8.13am.

It is suspected he had taken a quantity of MDMA. He was transported to hospital, but died a short time later.

A 20-year-old male arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs has since been released on police bail.

Then, at around 1.10pm on Sunday, police received a further call to the same building on Richardson Road, where the first woman had been found.

Another 18-year-old student had died and it is believed ketamine had been present at the address.

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug and has been released on police bail.

Chief Inspector Steve Wykes said: “This weekend we have seen the tragic loss of four young lives and our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of those who have sadly died.

“Although our investigations are at an early stage and we continue to establish the circumstances around these tragedies, we want to reiterate our warning to people against taking drugs for recreational use.

“The consequences could cost you your life.

“We would urge anyone with any information in relation to these tragedies to come forward – even the smallest piece of information could help us.

"If anyone has any information about who has supplied the drugs in question then we would also encourage them to contact us at the earliest opportunity."

Northumbria Police has also carried out a number of consent-based room searches at student accommodation with the Force’s drugs dogs, in collaboration with student wellbeing teams at Newcastle University.

Anyone with information about the drugs should contact Northumbria Police on 101, quoting references 181 03/10/20 660 03/10/20 222/227 04/10/20, 483 04/10/20 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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