A Caerphilly woman who had her tongue pierced as a birthday treat died two days later from blood poisoning.
An inquest into the death of 34-year-old care worker Amanda Taylor was told she paid £25 for the piercing at the Silverhand Jewellery centre in Castle Arcade, Cardiff.
A day later she went to her doctor complaining of a sore throat and was prescribed penicillin for suspected tonsillitis.
She later collapsed and died at her home.
A post-mortem showed she died from septicaemia and acute tonsillitis. The inquest heard she died of blood poisoning after bacteria from the throat infection entered her blood stream through the piercing.
Police and health officials found “unhygienic practices” at the piercing parlour but tests failed to directly link bacteria with the bug which killed Amanda.
A verdict of death by natural causes was recorded.
This is such a sad story, as so many young people are having their tongues pierced, stricter guidlines in parlours are needed.