Novichok Inquiry’s Second Week Concentrates on Skripals, with Limited Mention of Dawn Sturgess

Despite the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry hearings being held near St Paul’s Cathedral, with the venue prominently displaying her name, the testimony presented in London during its second week has largely omitted references to the Wiltshire mother. The proceedings have instead concentrated on Sergei and Yulia Skripal, the former Russian spy and his daughter, who were the initial victims of the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury, occurring four months prior to Dawn Sturgess’s death in July 2018. As the inquiry investigates the unusual circumstances preceding Dawn Sturgess’s death, details emerged regarding the critical medical attention the Skripals were given at Salisbury District Hospital and the point at which medical staff comprehended the severity of their condition. The Skripals’ time at Salisbury District Hospital marked the beginning of a new phase for this inquiry. This segment was the inaugural ‘Level 2’ hearing, necessitating additional safeguards to prevent the inadvertent revelation of classified information. Consequently, the inquiry’s web stream is suspended and not released until it has been approved daily. Journalists and members of the public attending London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre are still able to observe the proceedings in an adjacent room, subject to a 10-minute delay, with the feed liable to be terminated by the chair’s directive. Certain reporters, including the author, were permitted to attend the proceedings within the main room, under the condition of surrendering all electronic devices and watches to preclude any external communication. This demonstrates a tangible, yet somewhat unusual, illustration of how this public inquiry endeavors to balance the pursuit of information with the imperative to safeguard witnesses and national security. The inquiry has heard testimony from the initial anonymous witness, a doctor from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, identified by the designation FT49. Among the questions addressed by FT49 was the reason for the limited number of casualties, considering this chemical weapon is regarded as one of the world’s most perilous. He explained that the explanation resided in the dosage, encompassing both quantity and method of application. Inhalation, as Dawn Sturgess is believed to have done while mistaking it for perfume, would have led to a significantly more potent dose compared to slow absorption through the skin, which may have occurred with other individuals. FT49 also recognized an “excellent drug-dosing error” that occurred when a paramedic attending to the Skripals at the scene, while attempting to clear Sergei’s airway, inadvertently overturned the medicine bag. In an effort to retrieve the overdose medication naloxone, the paramedic mistakenly selected atropine, a substance used to stabilize heart rate, which FT49 stated proved to be “clinically beneficial.” Previously in the week, extensive details were presented concerning off-duty medical personnel who assisted the Skripals during a day trip in Salisbury. Testimony also covered the initial paramedics and police officers who arrived at the scene, maintaining the Skripals’ lives and establishing cordons due to concerns of an overdose involving a highly potent drug named fentanyl. The inquiry observed and heard how counter-terrorism police meticulously reconstructed the Skripals’ movements that weekend, and received insights into Sergei’s character as a friend, neighbor, and drinking companion during his residency in Salisbury. A primary area of inquiry seems to be whether the medical treatment, the lessons learned, and the warning signs from that incident were disseminated with adequate promptness and thoroughness. The hospital experiences of the Skripals are anticipated to be contrasted with those of Dawn Sturgess and her partner Charlie Rowley at a subsequent stage of the inquiry, which is scheduled to recommence in London on Monday.