Young teacher at top Catholic school died from accidental chemsex overdose, inquest finds

'There is a fine line between taking a recreational dose and taking something that may cause toxic effects' says toxicology expert

Helena Keane was found dead in her south London flat on May 21, two days after she was last seen by friends. (Richard Villalon/iStock)

A primary school teacher at a top catholic school died from an accidental overdose of a chemsex drug, an inquest has heard.

Helena Keane, 24, was found dead in her south London flat on May 21, two days after she was last seen by friends, when she failed to turn up to work at St Vincent de Paul primary school in Westminster, London.

An inquest, at Southwark Coroner’s Court, heard the cause of death was a GHB overdose.

Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, commonly known as GHB, is a class C drug which induces feelings of euphoria and enhanced libido.

The drug, which is also known as “liquid ecstasy” or a “date-rape” drug, is particularly dangerous because of the potential to accidentally overdose on a small amount.

Deputy head of Toxicology at Imperial College London, Dr Rebecca Andrews, told the hearing that the drug had grown in popularity among women on a night out in recent years because it was cheap and contained no calories.

At the hearing, Ms Keane’s father, Richard Keane, asked if it was possible his daughter’s drink had been spiked.

Dr Andrews said: “That’s one of the uses of GHB but it also has other recreational uses where people choose to take it.

“It is taken by body builders to lose weight and build body mass. It has [also] been used to reduce inhibitions in sexual situations.”

Keane’s body was found in her home in Tulse Hill when she failed to turn up at the school, where she taught reception children.

Dr Andrews said Keane had 518mg of GHB per millilitre of blood in her system; more than 260mg of the drug can put an individual in a “deep sleep”.

The inquest heard the drug comes in either a powder or liquid form, and the dose can be as small as a teaspoon. Dr Andrews said this was one of the dangers of GHB.

“The main thing is the fine line between taking a recreational dose and taking something that may cause toxic effects – especially when combined with other sedative-like drugs like alcohol,” she said.

“People deem it safe but because the dosing can be so fine, that’s the most dangerous thing about it. People don’t understand the fine dosing.”

Keane, who is originally from north Staffordshire, was last seen by a flatmate, Jenny Page, on May 19 when she came home to the maisonette in London from having drinks with friends from the school.

Ms Page told the inquest she heard Keane leave the property at one point for “five to ten-minutes” before returning again.

The inquest heard text messages on Helena’s phone show she planned to meet a drug dealer near the house that evening.

On May 21, two days after she was last seen, Keane was found in her bedroom by another flatmate, who said Keane’s arm was a “different colour” to her body.

Emergency services were called to the scene, where Keane was pronounced dead.

Speaking to the court, Mr Keane said his family did not know she was using drugs.

“Until the police came to our door nobody in either the immediate family or other family knew that Helena was using drugs at all.

“Her death was an absolutely enormous and devastating shock to every one of us,” he said.