Salisbury Novichok Poisonings Inquiry: Who Was Dawn Sturgess and What Happened to Her?
A public inquiry has been initiated to investigate the death of Dawn Sturgess, a victim of the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018. The inquiry aims to delve into the circumstances surrounding her tragic demise and its connection to the attempted assassinations of former Russian secret agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, as well as the impact on police officer Nick Bailey, who was also affected by the nerve agent.
The incident unfolded when members of a Russian military intelligence unit allegedly exposed Mr. Skripal’s front door handle to Novichok, resulting in poisoning but fortunately, all affected parties survived. The inquiry seeks to explore the events leading to Dawn Sturgess’s subsequent poisoning and untimely death.
Dawn Sturgess, aged 44, succumbed to Novichok poisoning at Salisbury Hospital on July 8, 2018. An investigation revealed that she had unwittingly used a discarded perfume bottle containing the lethal nerve agent. After spraying herself with what she believed to be perfume on June 30, she collapsed at her partner’s residence in Amesbury, where she began to exhibit symptoms.
Following her collapse, Dawn’s partner Charlie Rowley, who also fell victim to the poison but recovered, informed authorities that he had discovered the perfume bottle in a charity bin on June 27. Emergency responders later confirmed that she had been exposed to the same nerve agent used in the Skripal case, locating them eight miles away.
Novichok, a highly toxic nerve agent capable of disrupting the nervous system, was found in the perfume bottle. Initially developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, this deadly substance can manifest in powder, gas, and liquid forms, with skin absorption being a common route of entry. The name “Novichok” signifies its status as a potent newcomer in the realm of chemical warfare, a fact brought to light by chemist whistleblower Vil Mirzayanov in 1992.
The ongoing inquiry regarding the Salisbury Novichok poisonings liaises evidence to unravel the gravity of the situation, offering insight into the events that transpired and the devastating impact it had on Dawn Sturgess and those connected to her.