Teenager dies on first lads' holiday abroad after 'taking pills' in Ibiza
Ryan Long, from Eastwood in Essex, UK, was in Ibiza with four mates on his first ever lads' holiday.
However, the 18-year-old lost his life last Tuesday after suddenly falling ill while out in UNVRS nightclub, reports The Mirror.
The group had only just arrived on the island - popular with Irish holidaymakers for partying - when Ryan's pals noticed he "didn't seem right" and was "acting funny". After helping him back to their accommodation hoping that he would just sleep it off, he collapsed unconscious with his mouth foaming.
Ryan was rushed to a hospital in Palma De Mallorca via an air ambulance before falling into a coma that same evening and sadly dying in intensive care five days later. His final word had been the name of his brother, Aaron.
Adrian Long, Ryan's grieving dad, described him as "always full of life" and "smiling". Adrian and his wife, Angela, found out about their son's condition in the early hours of the morning but agonisingly had to wait until Thursday, July 4 for an available flight to Ibiza.
They were initially told by doctors that Ryan had only a couple of hours left to live. Angela said that she had drilled it into her son to avoid taking illegal drugs and believes that the high price of food and drink on the island could have been what drove her son to narcotics.
His tearful mum told MailOnline: "I think what was in Ryan's head was the expense of the clubs, the drinks. It was 52 euros for a single vodka and coke, it's just extortionate. He was doing an apprenticeship. He's not on brilliant money. And I don't know, I just think it was a cheaper option to get a fix, look somewhere else."
Ryan had suffered from acute and "deteriorating" liver failure from the devastating effects of the drug on his body. Angela said the loss of her son is like a "dream" and now wants to warn other young tourists heading out to the party island that it's not worth the risk if they they feel tempted to take drugs while there.
Ryan's mates were left traumatised after seeing their friend suddenly deteriorate the way he did but they did all they could to help, according to Ryan's mum. While Adrian hopes the tragic case of his son, who had never even been abroad without his parents before, will make other teens aware of the deadly impact drugs can have.
He said that people think it won't happen to them but "it does".
"You just want him to wake up, but obviously they're not going to wake up. You hope that they do but in his case, he hasn't," Adrian said when describing the moment his son passed away.
He also believes that Ryan was at a slightly higher risk of death from taking an ecstasy pill due to his nut allergy. Apprentice Ryan, who would have been 19 last Saturday, had everything to look forward to and was a long-standing member of local football club Ben Bradford Goalkeeping Academy (BBGK).
Owner and close friend of the family, Ben Bradford, has since set up a a GoFundMe page to help support the devastated parents. He said "lovely lad" Ryan enjoyed DJing, was a massive Southend United fan and that it was out of character for him to take any drugs.
The club is planning to hold a minute's silence for the teen and "do something in memory of him" to help the shocked community come to terms with the death. Ryan was also a county swimmer and won multiple swimming events, as well as being the youngest boy to qualify for an open water dive certification at a scuba centre in Cyprus.
Another close friend of the family also warned people against the "squeaky clean image" of Ibiza that draws in thousands of young holidaymakers every year. He believes that "things like this" happen regularly and added: "We were told by the hospital that there had been five or six cases like this already."
The GoFundMe has already raised over £8,000 (approximately €9,200), far surpassing its initial £2,500 (€2,875) target. Donations can be made here.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
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