Coroner's warning over body piercings

The coroner issued a warning over body piercing

A coroner has warned that people are taking a "considerable risk" by not following hygiene guidelines after having body piercings.

Carmarthenshire coroner William John Owen spoke out at the inquest of a Llanelli woman who died of blood poisoning after undergoing 118 piercings.

39-year-old Lesley Hovvells appeared on TV's Jerry Springer Show, where she paraded her pierced and tattooed body.

She had 28 ear studs, 13 ear rings, 11 belly bars, 18 bars, six lip rings, 36 body rings and six nose studs.

Lesley Hovvells had 118 piercings

The inquest at Llanelli heard how Miss Hovvells failed to keep the piercings clean, and they became infected.

The professional body piercer who carried out the piercings refused to do any more because Miss Hovvells was failing to keep them clean.

Ronald Hewitt, who runs the Magpie's Nest Salon in Llanelli, said people were putting themselves in danger by not keeping their piercings clean.

Ms Hovvells' 18-year-old daughter Rachel told the hearing that her mother was in pain from the piercings and would bathe them in salt water rather than seek medical help.

Ms Hovvells went to her local pub with friends to celebrate the Millennium Eve and collapsed at 0130 BST.

Cardiac arrest

She was to take to hospital where she fell into a coma and died 11 days later.

Consultant pathologist Dr Lesley Murray said that Ms Hovvells had an "overwhelming infection " which caused a cardiac arrest.

She said there was little doubt that neglected hygiene of her body piercings was responsible for introducing toxins and bacteria into her bloodstream.

The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure and warned there was a considerable risk in having body piercings unless hygiene was maintained.

"Miss Hovvells neglected these precautions and died as a direct result," he said.