A public inquiry has been launched into the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess, who passed away in the Novichok nerve agent poisonings in Salisbury back in 2018. The purpose of this inquiry is to delve deep into the “extraordinary” circumstances surrounding her death and the possible connections to the attempted killings of former Russian secret agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Additionally, police officer Nick Bailey, who was the first to enter the Skripal house, was also affected by the deadly nerve agent.
Dawn Sturgess, a 44-year-old mother of three, tragically died from Novichok poisoning in Salisbury Hospital on July 8, 2018. An autopsy revealed that she had come into contact with a discarded perfume bottle that contained the lethal nerve agent. After using the perfume bottle on June 30, thinking it was regular perfume, she collapsed at her partner’s house in Amesbury and began to show symptoms of poisoning. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, was also poisoned but managed to recover. He informed the authorities that he found the perfume bottle in a charity bin on June 27.
The fatal poison Novichok, which was found in the perfume bottle, is known to be an extremely toxic nerve agent that attacks the nervous system. It can exist in various forms such as powder, gas, or liquid, and can be absorbed through the skin. The name Novichok, meaning “newcomer” in Russian, was given to a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. This deadly chemical remained largely unknown until 1992 when a Russian chemist named Vil Mirzayanov exposed its existence, revealing that it had been secretly developed by the Russians.
The public inquiry aims to uncover the events that led to the poisoning of Dawn Sturgess and her subsequent death. It will examine the evidence surrounding the poisoning, the circumstances that unfolded, and any potential lapses in security that allowed for such a tragic incident to occur.
The story of Dawn Sturgess serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by chemical weapons and the devastating impact they can have on innocent lives. The inquiry into her death is essential not only to seek justice for Dawn and her family but also to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. It is crucial that we understand how such a deadly nerve agent ended up in the hands of unsuspecting individuals and what measures need to be taken to ensure the safety and security of the public.