A 24-year-old beautician tragically died from positional asphyxia after collapsing in an awkward position in a Belfast nightclub toilet, a coroner has ruled.
A Night Out That Ended in Tragedy
Chloe Ferris was on a night out with friends in December last year when the incident occurred. The group had been drinking at her house before getting a lift to a bar in Belfast city centre. The inquest at Belfast's Laganside Court on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, heard that while at the bar, Chloe used a friend's phone to arrange to buy cocaine, as she was embarrassed to use her own.
Her friends stated that taking cocaine was "out of character" for the group, though it was revealed Chloe had purchased the drug at least once before. The friends later moved to the Lux nightclub at around 1am.
The Discovery in the Toilet Cubicle
CCTV footage showed Chloe and a friend entering a toilet cubicle at approximately 1.17am. Staff became concerned during a routine check when they realised the cubicle door had not opened for around half an hour. Lux nightclub staff then climbed on each other's shoulders to peer through a gap, discovering both women unconscious inside.
Emergency services were called at about 1.55am. The fire service arrived within three minutes and paramedics within five. To reach the women, the fire service used a saw to remove the cubicle door. Paramedics could see that Chloe had fallen onto her knees with her head towards the door, while her friend's legs were beneath her, "as if she had fallen off of the toilet".
Cause of Death and Coroner's Warning
Despite resuscitation attempts, Chloe could not be revived and was pronounced dead within the hour. Her friend regained consciousness and was able to stand.
A post-mortem toxicology report found cocaine, ketamine and alcohol in Chloe's system. Her blood alcohol level was 107mg per 100ml, above the 80mg driving limit, but the amounts of substances were not considered excessively high. Coroner Joe McCrisken concluded that the cocaine had likely been mixed with ketamine without Chloe's knowledge.
Mr McCrisken ruled the primary cause of death was positional asphyxia, exacerbated by the combination of drugs. He noted that Chloe's higher-than-average BMI may also have been a contributing factor in the fatal incident.
In his conclusion, the coroner echoed a statement from Chloe's father, Declan, saying that taking illicit drugs was akin to "playing Russian roulette" with one's life. He issued a stark warning to others, stating that "tonight and in the coming weeks" many people would take similar risks, urging them to understand the grave dangers involved.
The inquest was told that an active criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Chloe's death remains ongoing.
