A British woman, Karen McGonigal, tragically died after taking an illegal weight loss injection. Her family warns about the dangers of unregulated treatments and urges caution with unlicensed health products.
The family of Karen McGonigal, a 53-year-old woman from Salford, Greater Manchester, has issued a strong warning after she tragically passed away following an illegal weight loss injection. The injection, commonly known as a “skinny jab,” was administered in a local beauty salon, where Karen sought treatment to improve her self-esteem and lose weight.
Karen McGonigal’s Struggle with Weight and Mental Health
Karen, who had battled with her mental health and body image following the end of a long-term relationship, became desperate to lose weight. Despite initially consulting her GP about weight loss injections, she was informed that she wasn’t eligible for the treatment through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
However, Karen later found out that a local beauty salon was offering weight loss injections for just £20 per jab. Despite the risks, she visited the salon multiple times, where she was given the injections without proper medical oversight.
Her daughter, Ffion, spoke to ITV News about the experience, revealing that the salon did not take any proper precautions before administering the jab. “No preparation, no cleaning, nothing,” Ffion said. “She’d give it to my mom, my mom would pay her, and she’d be out in three minutes.”
The Fatal Injection and Aftermath
Just days after receiving her last injection in May, Karen became severely ill, experiencing stomach pain, breathing difficulties, and her face turning purple. Ffion described how her mother was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, but after two days in intensive care, Karen’s life support was turned off.
Karen’s death came just before her daughter Ffion’s first pregnancy, a moment her mother had been eagerly awaiting. The family was devastated by the loss, with Abbie, Karen’s other daughter, saying: “The outcome is devastating. It’s heartbreaking and it’s really, really not worth it.”
What Went Wrong: The Wrong Medication
Karen’s family later learned that the injection she received was semaglutide, not the tirzepatide (Mounjaro) she had expected. Semaglutide is a different medication, requiring a distinct dosage, which may have contributed to the complications that led to her tragic death.
The family is speaking out as the first UK family to issue a warning about the dangers of using unregulated weight loss treatments, which can be purchased illegally from beauty salons or online.
Ongoing Investigation and Arrests
Greater Manchester Police have arrested one person on suspicion of manslaughter and another on suspicion of supplying a controlled substance. The investigation is ongoing.
A Warning to Others
Karen’s family is urging others to avoid unregulated treatments and to be cautious of products that may seem like a “quick fix” for weight loss. They emphasize that the risks of such treatments are not worth the potential consequences, as they experienced firsthand with Karen’s tragic death.
