Nice's public prosecutor Damien Martinelli confirmed Thursday that two women have been placed in pre-trial detention over the death of a 25 year old client who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest following an injection at a Nice beauty salon on Monday, according to France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
According to the prosecutor's statement, the young woman had sought a botox injection to the buttocks. After receiving an injection of lidocaine, a local anaesthetic, she suffered a medical episode. The woman who administered the injection attempted to resuscitate her, and emergency services were called, but efforts to save her were unsuccessful. A formal investigation has been opened for illegal practice of medicine, involuntary homicide and administering harmful substances.
Martinelli said the woman who carried out the injection had no genuine training or authorisation to perform such procedures, working by word of mouth and describing herself as a beautician while carrying out undeclared injection work. Normally based near Paris, she had been contacted by the salon's manager while on holiday in the Var, and acknowledged using products restricted to medical use. Investigators believe her unauthorised activity may date back as far as 2022, though she has refused to disclose her Nice address. Both the salon manager, 36, and the woman who performed the injection, 28, have been placed in pre-trial detention. A man also questioned in connection with the case was released.