TWO PILLS AND MY LITTLE GIRL WAS GONE
Mother’s warning as drug kills daughter, 18, at festival
A DISTRAUGHT mum has told how her “little girl” died after taking drugs at a dance music festival.
Janine Milburn said Georgia Jones, 18, fell ill after taking two pills at Mutiny Festival. Police confirmed another reveller died at the event in Portsmouth on Saturday. Janine said: “I just hope this stops some of you from ending up the same.”
A DANCE music festival has been cancelled after two revellers died amid warnings about a “bad batch substance” on site.
Police were last night probing after Georgia Jones, 18, and Tommy Cowan, 20, fell ill 20 minutes apart at Mutiny. They were taken to hospital but died.
A total of 15 people were taken to hospital, one still in a critical condition.
One reveller named only as Sam, 20, claimed festivalgoers were taking ecstasy tablets called Green Heinekens.
He said: “I saw the girl on the ground being treated by paramedics, it was a horrendous sight, she was in a very bad way.
“People said she may have had two pills and if they were the Green Heinekens I can see why, my friend only had one and he was in a right state afterwards. We had not heard anything about any drug warning, but as soon as people started getting ill it was blamed on Green Heinekens.”
Mutiny was expected to attract 30,000 revellers to King George V Playing Fields in Portsmouth, Hants, over the course of the two-day event. Saturday’s line-up included hip-hop star Dizzee Rascal.
Craig David had been due to headline last night, but organisers cancelled the rest of the festival in the morning over safety fears. They said in a statement during the event: “We are aware of a dangerous high strength or bad batch substance on site. We strongly urge you to not take any substances whatsoever.”
Festivalgoers described seeing a young man fall ill. Ashleigh Dennison, 22, of Worthing, West Sussex, said: “I was in the tent with my friends and it was obvious this boy was on drugs but he was having a good time.
“He was on his own, but he was bouncing around and we were talking to him.
“Then, 15 minutes later, he was completely gone. All around his mouth it was blue, he was floppy and there was no response from him. I knew that was it, he was gone.”
Georgia’s mother Janine Milburn posted yesterday: “Georgia died yesterday due to complications after taking two pills at Mutiny. If nothing else I hope what has happened to her will deter you from taking anything ever.
“The pills had caused her temperature to rise so high it made her fit for 45 mins.
“Her heart was irregular and stopped numerous times and then her lungs filled with blood and fluid.”
She added: “My little girl was 18 and full of life, I just hope this stops at least some of you from ending up the same.”
The family, from Havant, Hants, did not want to comment further.
The family of Tommy, also known as Tommy Bakeer also from Havant, also did not wish to speak.
Hampshire Constabulary said: “We can confirm two people have died after falling ill at Mutiny Festival. The deaths are being treated as separate incidents. They are not being treated as suspicious but enquiries are being made.”
Mutiny said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends. We’ll continue to work with authorities to support them in any way possible.”