Update - Suspected drug overdose in Liverpool City Centre

Update: 5.30pm – the 19-year-old girl was sadly pronounced deceased this afternoon.

Her next of kin is aware and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with information on this incident can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100027001, or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Original release

We are issuing a public safety warning and appealing for witnesses after a 19-year-old woman suffered a suspected drug overdose in Liverpool City Centre in the early hours of this morning, Sunday 27 January.

At around 2.30am, emergency services attended the Hangar 34 Club, Greenland Street in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle area to reports of an woman having been taken ill. The woman is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital where her description is critical. Her next of kin are aware and with her at hospital.

It is initially believed that the woman ingested MDMA powder, which is to be confirmed, and an investigation is ongoing to ensure that nobody else has suffered serious effects of taking these or other drugs, including checks with local hospitals, other local forces, and working closely alongside the club and other City Centre premises and partners. A man is also being assessed after possibly taking the same substance, but is described as stable.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Vaughan said: "We are urging anyone who took any substances at this location, or anyone who suspects someone they know has done, to attend at their nearest hospital for assessment.

"Likewise, if you are still in possession of any of the described drugs from last night, please do not take them under any circumstances but let us know and we will recover them for further enquiries to be made.

"We also want to hear from anyone who was offered any substances at this location, witnessed the young woman falling ill, were offered or bought the drugs described elsewhere. We have launched a full investigation to establish what these drugs were and who supplied them and will act on all information to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

"You may be worried about being in trouble for taking illegal drugs, however our immediate priority is to ensure that nobody else is affected. Ensure that family and friends are safe and well and report any concerns to medical services immediately.”

Anyone with information can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100027001, or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.