Girl, 17, died at under-18s rave event - inquest

Aliya Agwu went to the DNB Rave at the Engine Rooms in Southampton

A 17-year-old girl died after taking two ecstasy pills smuggled into an under-18s rave event, an inquest has heard.

Aliya Agwu, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, went along with friends to the DNB Rave at the Engine Rooms in Southampton in August 2023.

She was later taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital where she died in the early hours after suffering cardiac arrest.

Coroner Henry Charles, recording a conclusion of death by misadventure, said it was clear Aliya was a "lovely, talented young person with huge promise".

The Winchester hearing was told that during the rave, which started at 18:00 BST, Aliya told a friend she had taken the pills, and she was also seen to take ketamine.

The event finished at 22:00, and afterwards Aliya and her friends went to Southampton Central railway station where she collapsed.

'Beautiful person'

Mr Charles said a post-mortem examination and toxicology tests showed she died of multiple organ failure having consumed an amount of MDMA - the drug which makes up ecstasy - which "could result in fatality".

They also showed she had taken a "recreational" level of ketamine, which is a general anaesthetic also taken illicitly.

Mr Charles said the venue had used sniffer dogs and other security for the event, with alcohol not available during the night. It was only open to teenagers aged 16 and 17.

The coroner said: "The nightclub had a policy of searching for drugs and put a lot of resources into that, more than enough to satisfy the police.

"Aliya and her friends had in effect clubbed together to buy drugs for the event."

He added: "This was meant to have been an enjoyable night-out. Sadly the use of drugs, clearly with the intention of enhancing the experience of the evening, meant it ended in tragedy."

Aliya's mother Faye said in a statement read to the inquest that her daughter, who studied at Queen Mary's College, had a "natural energy", and was a "beautiful person with very much ahead of her - her curiosity stole her from us".