Latest news with #LiverpoolECHO
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Teen ketamine addict who took 14 grams a day only left bed to meet dealer
"The last few months before rehab were getting out of bed to see a dealer and then coming back home and sniffing in my room. That was it." A teenage ketamine addict has spoken about being so gripped by her addiction that she would only get out of bed to buy drugs, before realising she needed help. Emily Trueman, 19, started using the drug when she was only 16 after meeting new friends. At the height of her addiction, she was sniffing up to 14 grams a day, costing her about £60. She became so dependent, she ended up dropping out of sixth form and college to satisfy her habit. Now five months clean, she is warning others about the drug's effects, claiming it has become "the norm" for young people to use it. She told our sister title the Liverpool ECHO: "I went to school and got my 10 GCSEs. When I left, I became friends with a new group, and that's just what they were into. "It got to a point where I was taking it every day. I've got ADHD and I was undiagnosed at the time. My mind runs so quickly. When I took ket everything slowed down. "I felt like a failure with every step I went through in life. I was clever in school, but I could never sustain it when I got to exams. I couldn't keep up with education, I couldn't keep up with work, and I was having run-ins with the police. I was so depressed, I honestly thought I'd never escape it and I'd never be happy without it. "The last few months before rehab were getting out of bed to see a dealer and then coming back home and sniffing in my room. That was it." Emily dropped out of sixth form so ketamine could become "more accessible". She continued: "Drugs weren't really a thing in sixth form. I ended up going to a [different college] with a friend who also used. "I dropped out a few months in because I couldn't afford to feed my addiction. I started working full-time, swapping jobs, and then I went on sick leave for a couple of months. "Eventually I went back to work because sick pay wasn't cutting it and I couldn't afford my drugs anymore." Despite being told she had multiple health issues, including a shrunken bladder, limited liver function and a risk of kidney failure, she carried on using, not believing she had a problem. She said: "I thought it's what everyone does. When you're an addict, your brain does anything to tell you you're not an addict. "If you're sitting in a room full of people who are also addicts, and you keep behaving like you don't have a problem by using together, you'll never realise that you actually do have a problem. And people also don't realise they have a problem because literally everyone does it. It's normal. "I only started realising I had a problem the last time I went on sick pay, a month before I went to rehab. I realised I wasn't able to maintain any kind of normal life while being addicted to ket. "Nothing was conducive to a normal lifestyle. I didn't sleep in the night; I slept in the day. I was living in my bed; I wouldn't shower, wouldn't get dressed. I wouldn't want to speak to anyone unless they were other users. "My life was just a big mess. I just knew I couldn't live like that anymore. But it was difficult because I couldn't go to one of my friends and tell them I had a problem. They were all addicts too." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She described ketamine use in Liverpool as a "crisis". She added: "The price has gone so much cheaper; you don't know what it's being bashed with. "It's everywhere. If I walked into Liverpool, I'd be able to spot numerous people who are on ket or people I used to use with. That's just the way it is right now." Emily began a rehabilitation programme at Birchwood Rehab in Heswall, Merseyside, in February, and now wants to offer help to other young people affected by addiction. She added: "I think it's important for people to understand that when you're an addict, you can't just put down a drug and stay clean; it doesn't work like that. "You have to change every aspect of your life. It's about looking at your spirituality and learning to do these small things, which will boost your mood. That's what helps you stay in recovery. I'd really recommend fellowship groups and engagement services. "Try to distance yourself from people who use. I've cut contact with people I know who used. There is some kind of hope out there. I'm sitting here, and I'm nearly five months clean. I never thought I would see that day. I thought I'd be using it until I die, or until I end my life. That's where I was at; I was just miserable. It sucked all the life out of me." According to the Office for National Statistics, 2.9 per cent of 16-24-year-olds reported using ketamine between April 2023 and March 2024, a slight reduction from a record high of 3.8 per cent the previous year. In January 2025, the Home Office said it was looking to seek expert advice on reclassifying it from controlled Class B to the more serious Class A. The maximum penalty for supply and production of ketamine is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Girl, 10, loses both legs and arm after sign 'many parents wouldn't suspect as unusual'
A brave 10-year-old girl has lost both of her legs and her right arm after a shocking sudden illness. Penelope Vidal-Walsh had gone to bed as normal on April 10, but the next day she had deteriorated so quickly she was sedated in intensive care. The 10-year-old from Southport, described as a "little fighter", had woken up with a "bruise many parents wouldn't suspect as unusual" after telling her parents she felt unwell before going to bed at around 9pm the night before, the Liverpool ECHO reports. READ MORE: 'My daughter broke her leg because of an outdated and excessive school rule' READ MORE: 'I survived cancer and have miracle son – but now he could die' At around 2am she woke up and threw up, and her dad Ricardo Vidal put her in the bath and "checked her over" but couldn't see anything that gave him cause for concern, so Penelope went back to bed. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here The next morning things seemed normal at first as Penelope had breakfast, but was sick again at about 8.30am. Her dad again put her in the bath, and this time noticed a small purple mark on her neck. She got dressed after the bath, and her dad and mum Elizabeth saw another mark on her knee. Penelope's aunt Angel Walsh, 35, recalled how the parents had then done a "glass test" on their daughter. This is an NHS-advised way to examine a rash if you are worried about meningitis or septicaemia. It involves pressing a glass onto the rash to see if the pressure makes it disappear, and if it doesn't disappear then the rash could be a sign of a serious infection. Penelope's rash remained visible and her parents immediately took her to Ormskirk Hospital, and she was transferred to Alder Hey by 9.30am. There she was diagnosed with meningitis and sent to intensive care. Now, "determined" Penelope's dad has said that she spent "99 days fighting and now recovering." Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HER This has been gruelling period for her and her family, with her dad saying: "During this time she beat the meningococcal disease and also a very rare fungal infection which caused severe complications. "As part of her treatment Penelope underwent a triple amputation surgery, which resulted in her losing her lower limbs and her right arm. "She is currently undergoing skin grafting surgery as part of her rehabilitation and recovery. She has made huge progress and improvement and is even using a wheelchair and building up her core strength as well as the strength in her left arm." He added that despite the horrible struggle, they are grateful that Penelope is still alive. "It's been a roller coaster of emotions, heartache and anxiety," said Ricardo. "But as her parents we remain forever grateful that she is still with us and for all the incredible dedication and hard work that the staff here at Alder Hey and Ormskirk Children's A&E have done, they saved our Penelope's life." Penelope is still in hospital at Alder Hey on the critical care unit as she is getting ready for a skin graft. Ricardo shared that if the skin graft goes well they are expecting her to be discharged around October. Her family are also raising money for Penelope's future to help her to have the "best possible chance of living an independent life." Ricardo added: "We want to give her the best quality life and opportunities to fulfil any of her dreams and hopes that she had before this occurred. "We want her to be able to not let this deter her from being the most energetic, fun, lively girl that she always has been. She remains determined and motivated to keep building her strength. The strength and resilience she shows us every day is just incredible and we are just so proud of her." Penelope and her family want to create awareness of the "scary" illness, as well as warning people of the symptoms to watch out for. Symptoms of meningitis and sepsis include: a high temperature cold hands and feet vomiting confusion breathing quickly muscle and joint pain pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin) spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin) headache a stiff neck a dislike of bright lights being very sleepy or difficult to wake fits (seizures) Babies may also: refuse feeds be irritable have a high-pitched cry have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head
Irish Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Schoolgirl loses both legs and arm as parents issue warning over serious disease
A young girl had to have both legs and an arm amputated after being diagnosed with a serious disease. "Little fighter" Penelope Vidal-Walsh had repeatedly complained about feeling unwell to her parents, who then rushed her to hospital. 10-year-old Penelope, who is from Southport in Merseyside, had gone to bed as normal on April 10 but ended up in intensive care the very next day after her parents noticed a bruise. The schoolgirl let her mum and dad know she was feeling sick before she went to bed at around 9pm. She woke up and vomited at around 2am, when her father Ricardo put her in the bath and "checked her over". The Liverpool ECHO reports that when Ricardo didn't initially notice anything of concern, he sent Penelope back to bed and when they all awoke the next morning, the little girl ate her breakfast as normal but ended up vomiting again at 8.30am. Her dad then checked again and spotted a small purple mark on Penelope's neck. After getting dressed, Penelope was checked by her mum Elizabeth who, along with her dad, noticed another purple rash on her knee. The quick-thinking couple used the "glass test" to check the rash, which is a method of pressing a glass against a rash to see if it disappears under pressure. It is a method recommended if diseases like meningitis or septicaemia are suspected. If the rash remains visible through the glass under pressure, it could be a sign of a serious infection. The 'odd' bruise Penelope's parents spotted (Image: Angel Walsh/Liverpool Echo) When the rash was visible under the glass, Ricardo and Elizabeth rushed Penelope to Ormskirk Hospital but she was soon transferred to Alder Hey hospital, where she was received intensive care after being diagnosed with meningitis. Penelope has spent nearly 100 days fighting the disease but she remains "determined" to get better. Ricardo told The ECHO that: "During this time she beat the meningococcal disease and also a very rare fungal infection which caused severe complications. "As part of her treatment Penelope underwent a triple amputation surgery, which resulted in her losing her lower limbs and her right arm. She is currently undergoing skin grafting surgery as part of her rehabilitation and recovery. She has made huge progress and improvement and is even using a wheelchair and building up her core strength as well as the strength in her left arm." Penelope is awaiting more skin grafts and remains on the critical care unit at Alder Hey for now. Her father is optimistic that if the skin grafts go ahead as planned, she may be discharged as early as October. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to help Penelope with her future and to give the youngster the "best possible chance of living an independent life." Ricardo added: "We want to give her the best quality life and opportunities to fulfil any of her dreams and hopes that she had before this occurred. "We want her to be able to not let this deter her from being the most energetic, fun, lively girl that she always has been. She remains determined and motivated to keep building her strength. The strength and resilience she shows us every day is just incredible and we are just so proud of her." If you want to contribute to Penelope's fundraising page, click here. Penelope's family are eager to raise awareness of the symptoms of meningitis and sepsis, which can be: High temperature of 38C or above Rash or spots Feeling nauseous or vomiting Stiff neck Aches or pains Faster breathing Being bothered by bright light Cold hands or feet Pale or mottled skin Fits or seizures Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Parents issued urgent measles warning after child dies from 'eliminated' disease
The World Health Organisation declared that the UK had eliminated the illness in 2017 but outbreaks still occur. Parents have been warned about measles after a child died from the deadly disease last week. The World Health Organisation declared that the UK had eliminated the illness in 2017 but outbreaks still occur.. According to the UK Health Security Agency, elimination means that the disease is no longer native to the UK, but it doesn't mean that it has disappeared entirely. Vaccination rates have been on the decline in recent years, and this could prove fatal to kids following the recent death at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Experts fear measles could "spread like wildfire" in Merseyside and potentially beyond. There are at least 17 patients with the disease at Alder Hey, according to the Liverpool ECHO, which means cases in the community are likely to be much higher. The UKHSA reports that there have been 529 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England in 2025, an increase of 109 cases since the last report in June 2025. More than two thirds of these were in children aged 10 and under, so there are increased fears about measles continuing to afflict children across the UK. And, in the midst of this surge in cases, one expert has urged parents to keep an important health device with them wherever they go. Abbas Kanani MRPharmS, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, has told mums and dads of kids with asthma to keep an inhaler handy at all times. He said: "Parents should carry an inhaler in case of asthma attack [because] the respiratory and intestinal tracts are the most affected sites in measles-infected children." With the vaccination rates of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine "worryingly low" in some parts of the UK, this is crucial. The latest figures from the House of Commons Library's Child Immunisation Statistics show Scotland has the best MMR coverage by age five. But across the UK, immunisation rates have fallen in recent years and nowhere is currently meeting the 95 per cent target for two MMR jags by age five, which is recommended by the WHO to achieve and maintain measles elimination. Measles is an extremely contagious infection that is caused by a virus. For some people, they will get better on their own, but others may get seriously unwell. Symptoms include: cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, with others being affected by the airborne virus particles. To reduce the risk of spreading or catching it, people should wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water. If you are sneezing and coughing, use tissues and then bin them. The best method to prevent measles is by having the MMR vaccine. And Mr Kanani has urged parents to take up any offers for the jab. He said: "The MMR vaccine is offered to all children in the UK, two doses can give lifelong protection against measles, mumps, and rubella". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Daily Record
Brutal shooting of prison officer outside gym was 'act of retaliation'
Lenny Scott tragically died after being shot six times last February. A dad-of-three was fatally shot six times outside a gym in an "act of retaliation". Former prison officer Lenny Scott, 33, died following the incident in the car park of Peel House in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, on February 8, 2024. The gunman, wearing a hi-vis jacket, walked up to him before opening fire. Elias Morgan, the alleged gunman, and Anthony Cleary are both on trial at Preston Crown Court charged with his murder. Morgan is said to have shot him in response to an incident nearly four years previously where Mr Scott exposed an illicit relationship between the then serving prisoner and a female colleague. Mr Scott reportedly refused a £1,500 bribe in return for not reporting a phone Morgan had illegally while in prison, and also contained proof of the affair. Morgan, 35, allegedly threatened him: "I'll bide my time, but I promise I will get you." Cleary, 29, is accused of assisting him by procuring a van and e-bike used in the shooting, the Liverpool ECHO reports. Prosecutor Alex Leach KC walked the jury through a series of events. They heard how Mr Scott was seen on CCTV walking through the Peel House complex at 5.28pm, in the direction of the gym. A Mercedes driven by Morgan left his home address and travelled to Skelmersdale, arriving at 5.40pm. The court was told a "male with his face covered" was then spotted running along an alleyway from where Morgan had left the car. Shortly after, "a rider wearing dark clothing on a bike" was picked up on cameras travelling along Chequer Lane at 6.03pm before arriving at Peel House three minutes later. A man in dark clothing ran towards the Mercedes around 20 minutes later, with the car then travelling away. Footage showed a rider wearing a hi-vis jacket riding along Chequer Lane at 6.42pm, before entering the car park of Peel House less than five minutes later. Mr Leach said the rider was seen on CCTV"at the top of the car park" for around 49 minutes, and circled the area several times. Further footage showed Mr Scott walking with others inside Peel House before exiting into the car park and stopping to speak to someone outside, just metres from his own car. It then showed "the rider now on foot and approaching the entrance to Peel House". The court was then shown the moment the gunman opened fire on Mr Scott at 7.35pm, before fleeing the scene on the bike. Mr Scott's mother Paula, who was sitting in the public gallery with police liaison officers, was seen wiping her eyes as the video was played. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Mr Leach previously told the jury in the prosecution's opening remarks: "The murder was, the prosecution says, an act of retaliation. The prosecution says that, once you have heard the evidence, you will be sure that, at the very least, Elias Morgan orchestrated Lenny Scott's murder, recruiting Anthony Cleary to assist him in doing so. "Moreover, the prosecution say that, when you have examined the fine detail of the evidence, you will be sure not only that Elias Morgan is guilty of murder by organising the killing of Lenny Scott, you will be sure that it was he who pulled the trigger himself. For his part, Anthony Cleary played a supporting role. "Acting on instructions, he delivered the van containing the electric motorbike used by the gunman to a housing estate close to the gym. Moreover, he knew that he was delivering the van and bike so that they could be used by a gunman who intended to kill Lenny Scott, or at least to cause him really serious harm. "The evidence, when examined in detail, reveals a powerful image, one in which Elias Morgan, driven by a desire for revenge and reliant on Anthony Cleary for his assistance, planned and executed the murder of Lenny Scott. Both men, the prosecution say, are guilty of his murder." Both men deny the charge of murder, with Cleary also pleading not guilty to a charge of manslaughter. The trial continues.
