Girl, 16, dies after taking pill at house party

A 16-year-old girl died after taking a drug in tablet form at a house party in South Lanarkshire. Picture: PA

The 16-year-old is understood to have taken an ecstasy-type tablet at the gathering in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, last night. She returned home feeling unwell at around 5am and died several hours later.

Police are keen to speak to anyone else at the party, which is thought to have been attended by 40 to 50 teenagers.

A post-mortem examination has yet to be carried out.

Chief Superintendent Ciorstan Shearer said: “My sympathies are with the girl’s family and we have specially trained officers providing assistance and support to them at this sad time.

“As it has been suggested that she may have taken some form of ecstasy type drug, it is vital that we trace the other people who were also at the party to ensure that they are safe and well.

“I would urge anyone who was at this party and has taken drugs and is feeling unwell, or knows of someone who took drugs at the party to attend or contact their local hospital for treatment or advice.

“I also urge anyone who was at the party to contact police as a matter of urgency so that we can confirm their safety and establish the circumstances in which the 16-year-old girl became unwell.

“Police Scotland is working with its partner agencies including health officials in connection with this risk.

“Taking any type of illegal drug is highly dangerous as very often these substances contain a cocktail of ingredients which can vary from pill to pill. The effects can be unpredictable and can cause serious harm or even fatality.”