Tragedy of 'a perfect son', 18, who died after ingesting poisonous substance bought online

The heartbroken parents of a teenager who died suddenly at university say he was 'the perfect son' whose death has ruined their lives.

Matthew O'Reilly, described by his mother as "very clean living" was found dead in his student accommodation in Eddie Colman Courts in Salford on September 25, 2020 after his worried parents raised the alarm that they had not heard from him for a few days.

An inquest heard how Nick Saunders, a manager at the accommodation, found Matthew on the floor between his bed and desk and administered CPR while waiting for emergency services but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. He had ingested a poisonous substance, which the MEN is choosing not to name, purchased online a few weeks previously, before moving to Salford to start his degree.

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The 18-year-old, from Berryhill, had secured a place studying English Literature at Salford University after achieving excellent GCSE and A-Level grades.

The court heard how a toxicologist report showed he had ingested a poison. Senior Coroner at Bolton Coroners Officer, Timothy Brennand, described how a number of similar cases were all adjourned to allow police time to conduct enquiries.

Detective Inspector Andrew Wright identified a website informing readers how to obtain a suicide kit containing a poison, which can be used legitimately for industry means, which led him to ways the substance was obtained on line.

The court heard how an organisation in Sussex gave GMP 200 names of people who had purchased the substance from them and it transpired 47 people have since taken their own life. A number of others admitted purchasing the poisonous substance to end their lives, but