'Exploited' homeless woman died from drug overdose

Keeley Thornton was found unresponsive on Arundel Gate earlier this year

A vulnerable woman who had been "exploited" on social media in the run up to her death died as a result of multiple drug toxicity, an inquest has found.

Keeley Thornton, known online as "Sheffield Keeley", died on 14 January after suffering a cardiac arrest on Arundel Gate in Sheffield.

Members of the public had often filmed the 34-year-old and shared clips of her singing and dancing on TikTok where they gained millions of views.

In a statement read to Sheffield Medico-Legal Centre, her mother said her daughter had been offered accommodation the day before her death and seemed "in high spirits and positive about the future".

"She said the accommodation was lovely, and she cried when she was shown it," she added.

"I wonder if the chance she was given with the accommodation and support could have been a turning point for her. Sadly, we will never know."

Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden said the cause death was a combination of synthetic cannabinoids, known as spice, chlordiazepoxide, pregabalin, diazepam and alcohol.

She said the conclusion was "not a judgement at all on Ms Thornton, her lifestyle, or any choices she may or may not have made".

Flowers, drinks and candles were left on Arundel Gate in Ms Thornton's memory

The inquest heard how on the day of her death someone had tried to rouse Ms Thornton after she was found at about 18:10 GMT with another woman "lying on top of her".

She was found to be unresponsive and not breathing. Chest compressions were provided until an ambulance arrived and took her to Northern General Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Resuscitation was stopped at about 19:20 as efforts to save her, including multiple doses of naloxone and adrenaline, failed to take effect.

Ms Thornton, who grew up on Woodthorpe in Sheffield, was described as "kind-hearted, with a great sense of humour… she loved to sing and dance".

"Her family loved her dearly and think about her every day," her mother's statement said.

"She was very vulnerable and too trusting… she got herself into vulnerable situations," she added.

Tim Renshaw said Ms Thornton had had a "bright future" ahead

Tim Renshaw, chief executive of homeless charity the Archer Project, said Ms Thornton has been "close to moving away from the streets".

"She had a loving family, she had sisters, [who] had hopes and dreams that the future would be very different for her," he said.

Earlier this year, Mr Renshaw said members of the public had "exploited her just for likes."

"She was heavily used, because she liked to dance," he said.

"Life on the street – you can't hide, whether you're sad or happy or celebrating or commiserating, it's all there for people to see and to judge and to film, and we really shouldn't be doing those sorts of things.

"It's a wider point about how we see people who are on the street - are they human beings? Or do they become in some way entertainment, or objects of derision?

"There was a bright future for Keeley. She was a loving character. It is immensely sad."

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