Dirty needle killed woman crack addict

A DRUG addict died after she injected herself with a dirty needle, an inquest heard.

Lyndsay Hardy died when an infection developed around an artificial heart valve, which had been fitted in October last year.

Derby Coroner's Court was told that 30-year-old Miss Hardy had continued to take drugs despite having heart valve surgery and caught the fatal infection through an injection.

Coroner Dr Robert Hunter recorded a verdict of death from complications due to drug misuse. He went on to warn drug addicts about the dangers of dirty needles.

Passing on his condolences to Miss Hardy's family and friends, he said: "The only good thing that comes out of Lyndsay's death is that it can be a warning to other people.

"There are schemes where you can obtain clean needles and clean syringes.

"One can hope to raise awareness of this availability. It is not ideal but it can protect this type of disease from happening.

"It is not uncommon for people who take drugs to die from heart valve disease but it was such a tragic loss.

"We have heard of the dangers of injecting in non-sterile conditions and the introduction of infection into the bloodstream which can lead to sepsis and septicaemia."

Elizabeth Kirwan told the hearing she had known Miss Hardy, of Glengarry Way, in Sinfin, since December 1995 and was aware she had been a drug user.

The inquest was told that Miss Hardy had suffered from hepatitis and a breathing problem and because of this, she had a heart valve replaced at Glenfield Hospital, in Leicester.

Mrs Kirwan said she saw her on the Boxing Day after the heart valve operation.

Mrs Kirwan told the coroner: "Obviously, she was much better than when we had last seen her but she still had difficulty. She became very tired.

"I don't know whether she was still using drugs," added Mrs Kirwan.

Pathologist Dr David Green said the cause of death was "multi-organ failure due to infective endocarditis".

The inquest heard that Miss Hardy had discharged herself from hospital on July 11, where she had been admitted because of her heart problem.

She died the next day, the inquest heard.

The pathologist said notes referred to her as an "intravenous drug-user on methadone due to her smoking and injecting crack cocaine".

He found an infection which centred on the artificial heart valve, adding that there were no signs of a heart attack or coronary disease.

Dr Green said toxicology tests had not been taken and added: "My understanding is she was still using drugs intravenously and still introducing further potential infection."