Couple found dead in car following bizarre ‘chemical suicide pact’

A young couple were found dead yesterday following a bizarre ‘chemical suicide pact’ when their car was filled with toxic fumes from a lethal cocktail of bath salts and household detergent. Fire crews wearing specialist chemical protective clothing were called to a car park on an industrial estate in Braintree, Essex, at 8:25am yesterday.

A stunned warehouse worker raised the alarm after finding an apparent suicide note pasted to the car’s window warning the vehicle was filled with hydrogen sulphide. The bodies of a young man and woman, believed to be in their 20s or 30s, were found inside the car and fire crews cordoned off the car park.



It is believed that the deaths are one of the first ‘chemical suicides’ to occur in Britain. The craze, which is sweeping Japan and USA, involves mixing bath salts and detergent to create deadly hydrogen sulphide gas.

A source close to the scene said: ”It is believed this is a ‘chemical suicide’ which is a growing trend around the world but could be the first in the UK. There was a warning note on the window of the car telling people not to open the door. It warned the emergency services there were hazardous fumes inside so they knew what to deal with.”