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From the
https://www.kentlive.news
Aspiring army soldier William Horley, 17, died after taking drugs 'from the dark web'.
"I just want kids to be aware they don't know what they're taking and
this could happen to anyone of them"
William Horley had been accepted into the army and was scouted by a
modelling agency before his death.
The police have confirmed they are investigating the suspected supplier
of a fatal drug which led to the death of a teenage boy.
William Horley, 17, who lived in Herne Bay, died on the morning of July
23, last year after taking what he and his friend believed to be
Tramadol and Xanax.
The inquest, at Canterbury Magistrates Court today (January 9), heard he
had been working at the Lobster Shack restaurant in Whitstable the day
before his death.
The hearing was told that the Herne Bay High pupil and a friend had
bought the drugs, one being a strong prescribed painkiller and the other
to help with anxiety, from a seller who had obtained them from the dark
web.
The dark web is defined as a part of the internet that can only be
reached with certain software, and leaving its users untraceable and
anonymous.
The pair had taken the drugs during their shift at the restaurant and
had gone to the harbour to have some drinks with friends from work
afterwards.
William then went back to his friend's house in Whitstable and slept
there.
The following morning, neither William's friend or his sister were able
to wake him, and after attempting CPR, called a neighbour to help.
Having failed to find a pulse, they phoned for an ambulance which
brought the boy to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.
But he never regained consciousness and died at hospital.
A post-mortem found the cause of death as a tramadol overdose as well as
pneumonia, which may have been exacerbated by the drug preventing him
from breaching.
William's friend who he had been working with the previous day said that
they had taken tramadol in order to get through a difficult shift during
the Whitstable Oyster Festival.
He said that to his knowledge William had never taken the drug before.
DS Martin William told the inquest that he believes the tablets may have
been purchased from the Netherlands on the dark web.
Police are currently investigating a teenager who could have supplied
the drugs.
William had been a keen sportsman, having played rugby since he was
four, boxed for Canterbury, took part in kick-boxing and MMA.
He was about to fulfil his boyhood dream of joining the army, coming
seventh out of 41 applicants in his assessment.
At the time of his death he had arranged to meet with a model agency
having been noticed by a scout while on holiday with his father.
His mother Kim Webster, spoke of the terrible loss of a "caring, young
man" who had made one terrible mistake.
"He was a typical teenager, full of life," she said.
"I was very proud of him."
She said the pair had a very close relationship, that he told her all
about his life and that it would never have occurred to him to take his
own life.
"He had too much going for him," she said.
"He was ambitious. He knew what he wanted.
"He loved his sport and he loved life.
"He was just a beautiful happy boy who had a loving family around him."
'He took that chance and paid the price'
Mrs Webster spoke of her plans to hold sessions with youngsters at Herne
Bay High in a bid to teach them the dangers of drug use.
"Just because Tramadol is a prescribed drug doesn't it mean it's safe
for anyone to take," she said.
"William had his whole life ahead of him.
"I think it was just an experiment over the summer for him before going
into the army.
"To other young people, I would say just think, take that time to think
about it.
"They're taking that chance. William was a happy boy, he took that
chance and paid the price.
"I just want kids to be aware they don't know what they're taking and
this could happen to anyone of them."
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