The alleged assassination attempt on a former Russian agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, made international headlines in 2018. Discovery Plus’ “Secrets of the Salisbury Poisonings” is a documentary detailing what s happened in this particular case. Nearly four months after the incident, the same poison used in the attack on the Skripals inadvertently fell into the hands of Charlie Rowley, resulting in the death of his partner. So if you’re wondering what exactly happened, here’s what we know!
Who is Charlie Rowley?
Charlie and Dawn Sturgess met in early 2018 while living in separate homeless shelters in Salisbury, England. The two hit it off and started dating. Despite Charlie’s initial difficulties with drugs, he had fared much better, eventually moving into a housing association flat in Amesbury, England, about eight miles from Salisbury. But this did not affect the couple’s relationship at all.
On June 27, 2018, Charlie said he found a bottle of perfume while going through a charity bin in Salisbury. About two days later, he gave it to Dawn while she was in his apartment. Within minutes, she began feeling unwell, struggling to breathe, and having a foamy mouth. First responders transported Dawn to the hospital. Soon after, Charlie began feeling ill and passed out, eventually waking up in the hospital.
In March 2018, Sergei and Yulia were poisoned by Novichok, a nerve agent originating from Russia. Authorities then discovered that Charlie and Dawn had been exposed to the same substance; he was disguised as a perfume bottle. The same batch found in the perfume bottle was thought to have been used in the attack on the Skripals and was developed by the Russian intelligence agency.
However, Charlie thought it was a different bottle, adding: ‘It was thick plastic. You couldn’t tear it. It was hard. I remember having to use a kitchen knife. It left me. I rinsed it off. It had an oily texture and almost no smell. I mentioned [the lack of smell] until dawn. She just went on and gave him a spray, without thinking about it. She squirted it on her wrists as she sat watching TV.
While Charlie survived the crash and was released from the hospital a few weeks later, Dawn wasn’t so lucky. The mother of three eventually succumbed to her injuries. Charlie was understandably angry. He added: “I lost so much. I feel very sad about what happened to him; it is horrible and shocking. I was still on treatment when they told me she had died. I don’t think I can ever get over it. »
Where is Charlie Rowley now?
The recovery process has been long for Charlie. He spoke about dealing with physical and mental issues following the incident. Among other things, he mentioned that his eyesight and immune system had taken a dive. Charlie was also desperate for answers, saying, “I feel like we’re being kept in the dark about what really happened. I’ll take all leads if necessary. Of course, I want to find out the truth. There are still no answers to the real questions. While Charlie worked in construction in the past, a 2019 report said he was between jobs. Today, he lives in Warminster, England, and has started dating again.
Read more: Where are Sergei and Yulia Skripal now?
