An inquest heard that a Manchester Arena attacker who had been traumatized by visions of terrorist attacks overdosed on fatal prescription-only medications. 

Eve Aston (age 20), took the pills after years of struggling to deal with the terrible bombing that occurred at an Ariana Grande concert in May 22 2017.

Salman Abedi (22 years old) carried out the suicide bombing attack that killed 22 people and left 139 others injured. 

According to the Black Country Coroner’s Court, Ms. Aston was described as a ‘bubbly’ Ariana Grande fan who suffered from nightmares about Abedi. 

Although she had been at the concert along with her father Anthony Aston and was enthralled by the spectacle, they were both caught up in an ‘exclamation’ when thousands tried to flee.

Eve Aston was described as a 'bubbly' Ariana Grande superfan. She struggled for years to come to terms with the Manchester Arena terror attack

Eve Aston was described a “bubbly” Ariana Grande fan. The Manchester Arena terror attack on her at the Manchester Arena was something she struggled with for many years.

Ms Aston, 20, was found 'unresponsive' in her bedroom by her father on July 23

Ms Aston, 20, was found ‘unresponsive’ in her bedroom by her father on July 23

Emergency services at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue on May 22, 2017

Emergency services at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue on May 22, 2017

The ‘daddy’s girl survived the horrible incident but her father found her ‘unresponsive in her bedroom on July 23, just hours after she had lovingly said goodnight.

Mr Aston, from Wolverhampton, told the court: ‘We could see a change in her, she wasn’t the person she used to be. She tried drugs.

“She was so joyful and full of life, she was the life of the party. That’s why it was such a shock.

“She had flashbacks all the time – she still has them. This was what affected her. It was a constant presence in her dreams.

Toxicology tests found ‘very high concentrations’ of the antidepressant Citalopram and opiate painkiller Dihydrocodeine in Ms Aston’s blood, which had been prescribed to family members.

The inquest heard that ‘one or both drugs resulted in her death’, with concentrations found to be at a level ‘normally associated with fatalities’.

Mr Aston said, “Recently we began to see signs of the old Eve returning.” She was happier, more bubbly Eve in the six last weeks of her adult life.

“She wanted to go see KSI, a Youtuber from Birmingham who was performing in October. For that, she even kept a countdown in her phone.

After spending an evening with her family, Ms. Aston went to bed around 11 pm on the night that she died.

According to the inquest, her father remembered hearing her call at 2am on the telephone but didn’t see her that day. 

So her parents made arrangements to have her checked in with them at night.

The couple entered her bedroom hoping to get her out of bed but she died at 8.30pm. 

Amanda is taken care of by Mr Aston. The programme was something we enjoyed.

She said that she would go to bed at 11 p.m. She said goodnight and “love you” like she always did.’

It was not unusual for Eve to be absent from the family’s routine, he said. 

British authorities identified Salman Abedi as the suicide bomber responsible for the explosion which killed more than 20 people

British authorities identified Salman Abedi as the suicide bomber responsible for the explosion which killed more than 20 people

Armed police at Manchester Arena following reports of the explosion at the Ariana Grande concert

Manchester Arena: Armed police respond to reports that Ariana Grande was injured in an explosion

‘I went upstairs, I was expecting to say “come on Eve, wake up, you need to get into some kind of routine” and that’s when I saw her’, Mr Aston added.

‘I knew straight away.’

Ms. Aston, who had post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed and was referred by mental health professionals following the terrorist attack. The court however heard that she failed to follow up on her appointments.

Before she was a mechanic, the aspiring mechanic had already cut her arm. and ‘flippantly’ claimed she would kill herself, her father said told the court.

Her family searched her room after her death for evidence, but they found nothing.

Mr Aston, who said his wife could not bear to attend the inquest as the death had ‘knocked her for six’, said his daughter was a ‘normal girl’ before the bombing.

He described the attack by recalling that ‘quite many people ran towards us’, and that there was also a “bit of crush”.

He stated that the pair had been outside and seen “people with bloody legs”. However, it was only after they returned home did the two hear details on what had happened via the radio.  

Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique recorded a conclusion of drug-related death after declaring he could not be sure Ms Aston had intended to kill herself. 

The judge heard him say that he had difficulty dealing with the events. He told the court that she used cannabis and other recreational drugs. She was also open to her family.

‘She talked flippantly about taking her own life but the family believe she did not really mean that and it wasn’t said with any intent.

“These drugs were not prescribed for her, but to family members. On balance it appears that she took these drugs from family members.

Hundreds gather at Victoria station in Manchester to remember those who died on the fourth anniversary of the attack

Manchester’s Victoria Station is crowded with people to pay tribute to those who were killed in the attacks on the fourth anniversary.

‘Based on the evidence, I can’t say whether she intended to take her own life, whether this was a deliberate overdose or accidental overdose. It’s not clear on the evidence.

“She clearly planned ahead. It doesn’t look like there was any intention to take her own life at that stage.’

In the wake of her death, more than £8,000 was raised for Ms Aston’s funeral. 

During a tribute at Wolverhampton’s Bantock Park, loved ones also released dozens of balloons in her memory to Ariana Grande’s song ‘One Last Time’ 

Her heartbroken mother Amanda said at the time: ‘From the moment she was born she was a jolly soul, she had a very funny sense of humour and was a daddy’s girl.

“She was a fan of Ariana Grande and went with her father to see her at the Ariana Grande concert. She was able to sing all the notes.

Abedi, who was a suicide bomber at Manchester Arena in Manchester, is now serving life imprisonment for his role in the building of the bomb.