The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mum reveals role of drugs in son’ s death
Brenda Edwards has said she is in a “state of shock” after learning her music entrepreneur son died from “cardiac arrhythmia caused by having taken recreational drugs”.
The 53-year-old singer and Loose Women presenter made the announcement on social media as an inquest was opened at West London Coroner’s Court into the death of Jamal Edwards.
She wrote on Twitter of the importance of driving more conversation around the “unpredictability of recreational drugs” and the impact they can have, following her son’s death in February at the age of 31.
Edwards said: “Since I last spoke, I have sadly learned that the cause of Jamal’s devastating passing was due to cardiac arrhythmia caused by having taken recreational drugs and I wanted to address this myself to everyone who loved, admired and respected my son.
“Since finding out the news, I’ve been in a state of shock and I’m still trying to process it, but it’s so important to me that I do address it as no mother or any loved one should have to go through what Jamal’s sister, Tanisha, and I have been through since he passed.
“Yet we have to come to terms with what has happened, and Jamal is proof this can happen to anyone.”
She wrote: “These types of substances are extremely unpredictable, and we can only hope that this will encourage others to think wisely when faced with similar situations in the future.
“I would do anything to have my son back but that is just not possible, so if I can help save one life, then we will have achieved something.”
The inquest heard Jamal died on February 20 at his mother’s address in Acton.
Assistant Coroner Catherine Wood said: “He came home late one evening, after which he became increasingly agitated and suffered a cardiac arrest.
“He was deteriorating despite treatment and died on February 20 of this year.
“A post-mortem has been undertaken and I have reason to suspect the death was an unnatural death.”
The inquest will resume in eight weeks.
Jamal found fame after setting up the music platform SBTV in 2006, and was credited with helping to launch a string of UK music acts including Ed Sheeran, Dave and Jessie J.
He was an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and in 2014 was made an MBE for his services to music.