Two arrested after contaminated heroin batch kills man
A further eight overdoses have been linked to the presence of a synthetic drug which can be 500 times stronger than heroin
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
A big welcome to all the new subscribers who signed up following Sunday’s edition which detailed the hateful posts of a Reform UK candidate who hopes to be elected in Birkdale. It was good to see our story picked up by the Liverpool Echo this week, albeit without any credit to ourselves - nothing new there. If you’d like to support us to continue publishing original journalism on a page not cluttered with adverts, please do consider a paid subscription (and thank you again to those who already do).
Today’s edition focuses on a tragic and worrying outbreak of a high strength synthetic drug which has been circulated around Southport. So far, one death has been reported alongside a series of other overdoses which has sparked concern among police and public heath bosses.
Southport briefing
🚧 Pre-construction work begins at Southport Pier this week ahead of the 14 month project to refurbish and reopen the historic structure. Among the tasks taking place this week are further checks on the condition of the pier to assess its deterioration since full surveys were carried out. A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “The first task contractors will have is to assess the current condition of the existing paintwork on the structure’s columns. We want to ascertain if there has been any deterioration since previous assessments were undertaken. If the condition is good it can be left as is, however if not we will also need to repaint the whole structure as part of the repair works.” This is expected to take five days and will be followed by checks of the stability of the ground under and around the pier in the coming weeks.
🙏 People are being asked to help the family of a dad-of-three who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Leon Skapars, a plasterer who lives in Southport with his partner Crystal and their three sons aged 2, 3, 10, was given the tragic news last week. His symptoms began in early 2025 with haematuria, and back / flank pain. In mid–2025 a CT scan identified an 8cm kidney tumour, with kidney removal surgery carried out last September. He began a course of immunotherapy, but doctors later diagnosed that the cancer had progressed to Leon’s lungs and lymph nodes, along with a recurrence in his kidney. Last week the cancer was reclassified as Stage 4, and incurable. Crystal said: “Leon only received three rounds of immunotherapy before being told his cancer is resistant to treatment. The NHS can no longer offer anything to try to cure Leon—only a daily tablet to slow the disease. If this doesn’t work, Leon may have as little as 12 months to live. If it does, it could give him up to 3 years. We are not ready to accept that this is all the time Leon has left - as a father, as a partner, as someone who still has so much life to live. He has dreams, goals, and places he still wants to see. His children need their dad. Leon has now been enrolled in a clinical trial which, if successful, may help control the cancer for a short time. This gives us some hope whilst we urgently try to raise funds due to the limited treatment options available on the NHS.” You can read more here or donate here.
🏥 An NHS leader has promised Ormskirk Hospital will continue to provide key services after the children’s A&E department moves to Southport. Speaking after West Lancashire councillors laid out fears over potential impacts of the move to their residents, Craig Harris, from the new regional NHS board defended the decision and gave assurances over the future of the hospital itself. He said: “The decision was about making sure there is a 24/7 emergency department for both adults and children at the same site, which will safely and sustainably deliver emergency care for people living in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. “Ormskirk Hospital will remain open and continue to provide key services to patients, including outpatient services, urgent treatment, planned care, diagnostics and inpatient services. There is active investment planned for the site and it’s vital to remember that currently 86 per cent of activity is not A&E.” He added: “Following the outcome of the consultation, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has committed to exploring the possibility of upgrading the walk-in centre in Skelmersdale to an urgent treatment centre.”
🔍 An appeal has been launched for help in tracing the next of kin for a man who died alone in Southport. Paul Cunningham, 62, died at his home on Avondale Road North on Sunday 26 April and Merseyside Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. It is believed he may have had relatives living in Australia and anyone who can assist is asked to contact Coroner’s Investigation officer James Martindale on 0151 934 2276 or by emailing james.martindale@sefton.gov.uk
Public health warning and arrests as contaminated heroin outbreak causes deadly overdose
By Jamie Lopez
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a contaminated batch of heroin killed a man and caused several others to overdose.
The arrests come amid a public health warning over the presence of nitazenes in heroin being sold around the town. Nitazenes are a synthetic drug which mimic the effects of heroin but can be far stronger and more unpredictable. They have been linked to hundreds of deaths across the country in recent years.
Multiple cases have been seen across Southport of people suffering overdoses as a result of contaminated drugs and on April 13, a 62-year-old man died at his home on Leyland Road. According to public health bosses, the man’s death has been confirmed as involving nitazenes.
Sefton Council said that another eight non-fatal overdoses have been recorded across the town along with an additional case in Crosby which is believed to be linked. A spokesperson said that health, police and treatment services are working closely together to prevent further harm.
Merseyside Police have now confirmed that a 51-year-old man from Southport and a 32-year-old woman from Waterloo were both arrested in Liverpool yesterday this week on suspicion of manslaughter. They remain in police custody.
The presence of nitazenes on the unregulated drug market has risen dramatically in recent years. According to the National Crime Agency, 333 fatalities linked to nitazenes were recorded in 2024 alone but researchers from King’s College London believe the true number is far higher than this.
According to researchers the synthetic drugs can have strengths of up to 500 times that of heroin and can be readily manufactured at low cost. Originally synthesised for use in humans as painkillers, their development was halted due to extreme potencies.
