Two men in court over nitrogen cocktail case

A bar owner and bartender have appeared in court in relation to a health and safety case involving a teenager who nearly died after drinking a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen.

A teenager had to have her stomach surgically removed after drinking a liquid nitrogen cocktail

In October 2012, Gaby Scanlon, of Lancashire, UK, consumed two shots of Jägermeister laced with liquid nitrogen during a night out with friends to celebrate her 18^th birthday in Oscar’s Wine Bar in Lancaster.

Soon after, the teenager began complaining of severe stomach pains and was rushed to Lancaster Royal Infirmary where a CT scan revealed a large perforation in her stomach where the liquid nitrogen had burned a hole and completely destroyed the lining.

Scanlon then endured a four-hour emergency operation to remove her stomach, forcing doctors to connect her oesophagus directly to her small intestine.

According to reports by the Lancaster Guardian, Andrew Dunn, 52, of York and director of Oscar’s Wine Bar did not enter a plea at Lancaster Magistrates Court on Monday.

Matthew Hardin, of Lancaster, pleaded not guilty.

Lancaster City Council is also prosecuting the bar for health and safety breaches.

Prosector Rephael Walmsley said the case was too serious to be handled at Lancaster Magistrates Court and requested it be passed to crown court.

District Judge John Brailsford bailed Dunn and Hardin unconditionally to appear for a preliminary hearing at Preston Crown Court on 18 May.