The family of a woman who died after receiving an illegal weight-loss injection has called for a crackdown on unlicensed "skinny jabs". Karen McGonigal, 53, from Salford, Greater Manchester, died in May just days after being administered semaglutide at a beauty salon.
Her daughters Abbie McGonigal, 32, and Ffion McGonigal, 25, told ITV News their mother had been "desperate" to lose weight and struggling with her mental health following the end of a long-term relationship. She had visited her GP and taken tests to see if she was eligible for NHS weight-loss injections but was unable to qualify for the medication.
Illegal salon treatment
Friends told Mrs McGonigal that weight-loss injections were available at a local beauty salon for £20 each. ITV News reportedly saw text messages from a beautician offering the treatments.
Ffion McGonigal said her mother visited the salon multiple times believing she was receiving Mounjaro injections, a licensed weight-loss medication also used for type two diabetes. A beautician would take Mrs McGonigal into a back room for the injection, according to her daughter.
"No preparation, no cleaning, nothing. She'd give it to my mum, my mum would pay her and she'd be out in three minutes," Ffion said. Mrs McGonigal initially lost weight but became severely unwell four days after her final injection, developing stomach pains and breathing problems.
Fatal outcome
Ffion, who lived with her mother, called an ambulance but after two days in intensive care, doctors told the family nothing more could be done. The family has since learned Mrs McGonigal was actually injected with semaglutide instead of tirzepatide (Mounjaro), requiring different dosage protocols.
Although awaiting further test results, the family believes the unlicensed injections caused Mrs McGonigal's death. "I think the people who are actually injecting people with this stuff - more needs to be done to them," Abbie McGonigal said.
"There's so many people doing it; there's so many people selling it; these people are getting away with destroying people's lives. If this interview saves another person or saves another person going through what we feel - then we've done enough."
Police and political response
Greater Manchester Police has arrested one person on suspicion of manslaughter and another on suspicion of supplying a controlled substance. Health Secretary Wes Streeting told ITV News the Government would "take every action we can to clamp down on the availability of these sorts of drugs on the black market".
"My heart goes out to Karen's family after just such a shocking and avoidable loss. We're determined to make sure that we drive these dangerous criminals out of our country," Streeting said. He urged people to seek medical advice from regulated providers before taking such medication.
Wider crackdown
The case follows a recent raid on an illegal laboratory in Northampton where authorities seized unlicensed weight-loss medication worth £250,000, along with manufacturing equipment and £20,000 in cash. A Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency spokesman said it was "believed to be the largest single seizure of trafficked weight loss medicines ever recorded by a law enforcement agency worldwide".
NHS England warns that semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, can only be taken if prescribed by specialist weight management services and is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or those with certain health conditions.
Sources used: "ITV News" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
