Drugs were found at gig before teen died - inquest

More than 80 people were found with drugs at an amusement park event where a teenager was believed to have overdosed, an inquest heard.

Emily Stokes, 17, died in hospital in June after attending a gig at Dreamland in Margate, Kent. She was thought to have taken MDMA.

Shane Guy, the operations director at Dreamland, said the 82 drug seizures were "the sort of numbers we expect to find" at an event of that size and staff were not overwhelmed at any point.

A full risk assessment had been carried out ahead of the gig, which was considered to be high risk, Mr Guy said.

The operations director said a review of CCTV after the event showed Emily entering the site at about 13:30 BST on 29 June.

She had been searched and no drugs were found on her.

Mr Guy said pictures showed Emily enjoying herself, and she was later seen coming out of a toilet and putting something into her mouth and drinking water.

She was subsequently found slumped on the ground and was given medical treatment before being transferred to hospital, the Maidstone inquest heard.

Security and medical staff at the event had been warned in advance that there had been a very strong batch of MDMA circulating in Kent, laced with fentanyl, the inquest was told.

Sinead Faith-Simms, a medic who treated Emily, said the teenager had told her she had taken two MDMA tablets, and had been drinking alcohol.

Ms Simms said Emily was agitated, shaky and started to freak out.

"She was quite delirious. She wasn't really making much sense. She was talking to people that weren't there," Ms Simms said.

A major incident was declared following Emily's death, but the event, attended by about 7,000 people, was allowed to continue.

Mr Guy said: "If you continued the event, the risk was far less than if you turf them out.

"You don't want 7,000 unhappy people on the streets of Margate."

The inquest also heard from Kay Mockford, Emily's former social worker at Waltham Forest Council, which was caring for the teenager.

She said she had told Emily she could not attend the event because she did not want her to stay the night with a friend.

Emily had previous issues with drinking too much and smoking cannabis, the inquest heard.

Ms Mockford said she had a good relationship with Emily, who she described as a "very funny", "very clever" and "very quirky young lady".

"She had a great friendship group who loved her. She just loved life. She was a remarkable young lady and is sorely missed," Ms Mockford added.

The inquest in continues.

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