The internet can be a lifeline for many, but sometimes it becomes a place where deadly risks hide in plain sight.
Recently, a senior coroner raised alarm after investigating the deaths of 45 people who purchased a toxic substance online.
These deaths have revealed a grim pattern of misuse and exploitation, particularly around online forums encouraging this poison’s use for suicide.
The Poison Behind the Tragedies
Although the coroner didn’t name the chemical outright, he described it as a food preservative commonly used in meat curing.
Despite this legitimate use, the substance is also classified as a dangerous poison and an explosive precursor.
The coroner stressed that small purchases of this chemical are being made under the mistaken belief that people are just engaging in food preservation hobbies, especially during lockdown periods when home cooking surged.
However, many of these purchases were linked to people seeking a means to end their lives.
The coroner warned that online communities and forums were actively promoting the poison as a method of suicide, spreading detailed information on how to obtain and use it lethally.
Real Lives Behind the Numbers
The deaths studied by the Manchester West coroner, Timothy Brennand, include individuals like Kelly Walsh, a 45-year-old businesswoman and girlfriend of former footballer Andy Woodward, who publicly spoke out about child sexual abuse in football.
Kelly died after buying the poison online in early 2021 at her home in Greater Manchester.
Other victims ranged widely in age and location: Matthew O’Reilly, an 18-year-old student; Samuel Dickinson, 33; Matthew Price, 37; Chantelle Williams, who died after multiple attempts; Shaun Bass, 23; Andrew Brown, 45; and William Armstrong, 24.
Many of these people had mental health struggles, and some ordered the substance from international suppliers, including vendors in Russia and Lithuania.
The Scope of the Problem
A police investigation revealed that one UK-based business had sold the poison to 247 customers across the UK and Europe over one year.
Disturbingly, 45 of those customers were confirmed to have died after purchasing it, while only 15 purchases were for legitimate uses like meat curing.
The vendors themselves were reportedly unaware that their products were being misused this way.
The surge in small orders was initially mistaken as a growing interest in food preservation as a hobby, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
But the reality was far more sinister, as these transactions were linked to suicides.
The Role of Online Forums and Mental Health Concerns
Many victims bought the poison after engaging with online forums described as “safe spaces,” which, tragically, shared information on how to access and use lethal poisons.
The coroner highlighted the harmful impact of these platforms, which often encourage and assist vulnerable individuals to take their own lives.
Several victims had documented mental health struggles.
For example, Kelly Walsh’s actions were described as deliberate and linked to her declining mental health.
Matthew O’Reilly’s death was deemed a deliberate act of self-ingestion.
Others, like Shaun Bass, had histories of depression and anxiety.
Challenges in Prevention and Policy
The coroner pointed out a gap in current Home Office guidelines, which focus on “malicious misuse” but fail to address the deliberate use of such poisons for suicide.
Small purchases of these substances tend to be overlooked because they are often assumed to be for legitimate purposes.
He urged authorities to rethink this approach, warning that the public’s purchases of small amounts of this chemical should be carefully scrutinized as potential suicide attempts rather than innocent hobbyist activities.
Moving Forward: What Comes Next?
Following these findings, the coroner has sent reports to the Home Secretary, police, ambulance services, and mental health officials in the North West.
The Home Office is expected to respond within 56 days.
This tragic series of deaths highlights the urgent need for better regulation and monitoring of dangerous substances sold online.
It also calls for more robust mental health support and careful attention to the dark side of internet communities where vulnerable people may find harmful advice.
The story is a stark reminder of how modern technology, while beneficial, can also enable new and dangerous risks — especially for those battling mental health challenges.