An Essex teenager who was on his first-ever lad’s holiday to Spain died after ‘taking ecstasy’ in a club just after landing.
The family of 18-year-old Ryan Long said they ‘can’t wrap their heads’ around what happened to their son, who had just landed in Ibiza with his mates on July 2 before going clubbing.
His dad, Adrian, said: ‘Their cases were in the room and he didn’t even unpack – they went straight out, excited to be on their first lads’ holiday on their own.
‘They visited a few bars before ending up at the club, and he didn’t seem quite right there. Towards the end of the night, he got in a cab to go back to the apartments with his friends.’
His mum Angela said Ryan suddenly fell ill in the taxi and began foaming at the mouth. The last thing he said was his brother Aaron’s name.
She added: ‘His friends put him in the recovery position and phoned an ambulance – his friend was doing the respirator while paramedics worked on him.’
At first, when receiving the call that Ryan was having a ‘bad reaction’, Angela thought he had gone into anaphylaxis from his nut allergy, or been spiked.
Which could still be the case, but his parents now believe he had a bad reaction from taking ecstasy, adding: ‘We’ve sat our boys down many a time and told them not to take drugs. I just can’t get my head around it. Not in a million years did I ever think he would do anything like this.’
His parents flew out to see him and rushed to the hospital in Ibiza, before going with him to a larger hospital in Menorca for a liver transplant.
‘But when we got there, they said he wouldn’t survive the operation. More scans had revealed he had septic shock and a brain haemorrhage.’
Ryan’s family were with him when he passed away on Tuesday, July 8, so it’s some small solace that they made it in time to be there. Still, it’s completely devastating to have every parents’ worst nightmare come true like this, and goes to show why parents are can be so wracked with worry when kids in their teens/20s go on holiday alone.
Adrian and Angela are now warning other young people about the risks of lads’ holidays.
Adrian said: ‘Youngsters think they’re invincible, but we’re never going to forget this. You don’t know what’s there or what people are trying to give you.
‘You can drum it into them many times, but hopefully people will think twice. It is the height of the season now, and everyone will be going out there. In that environment, they’re away from home, the adrenaline is going, and they just don’t think.’
Angela added: ‘The devastation they leave behind is not worth it. His mates who tended to him are traumatised from what they’ve been through.’
Always sad to lose a life so young. It’s true that young people often feel invincible and often don’t have the experience or wisdom necessary to keep themselves safe, or know that they might be the unlucky one who suffers a catastrophic reaction. RIP Ryan and thoughts with his family and friends as they come to terms with this tragedy.
