'Ecstasy' kills 16-yr-old student

'Ecstasy' kills 16-yr-old student

A teenage girl has died of a suspected ecstasy overdose while with a group of pals celebrating their exam results - just days before her 17th birthday.Serena Harding is believed to have suffered a heart attack after taking a tablet at a beauty spot.A couple out walking dialled 999 when they found the fashion student distressed and struggling for breath by a park bench.She was rushed to hospital but died later.Last night her heartbroken parents Diane and Kenneth said: "To our knowledge, she'd never before taken drugs."This has come as a great shock to everyone who knew her."She will be missed so much. There is a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled."The pals had gathered under a viaduct in Reddish Vale Country Park, near Stockport, Cheshire, days after many had got their A-level results.Serena, who lived 20 miles away in Warrington, took her GCSEs last year and hoped to go to university to become a fashion designer.On a social network site, she described herself as "having a tendency to be weird", adding: "I'm happiest with my mates and dancing at parties."In their statement, Sarah's parents added: "She always talked about her future and would embrace life. She was very family-orientated and a loyal friend."Police said they had yet to establish who Serena was with at the park.Four men aged 18 to 20, and a 25-year-old woman, were arrested for drugs-related offences.Two more men were held yesterday.Chief Insp Mark Hussey said: "It's a very tragic incident for the family. Serena was at a time in her life when she had everything to look forward to."

Source: www.thesun.co.uk
Published Aug 23 2011