We were deeply saddened to hear of another young life lost at an illegal rave, only a mile from our home.
Our own son, Daniel, died after attending an illegal rave in west London in January this year, and since then we have learned a lot about how these illegal raves are set up and organised, what incredibly dangerous environments they provide, how frequently they are held across London, and what young teenagers they are that are accessing them, often very naive to the risks they are taking.
Information about raves is easily found on Facebook.
At a typical rave held recently in west London, the average age was estimated to be 16, with children as young as 13 there.
The most common excuse given to unsuspecting parents was that they were sleeping over at a friend’s house.
There were an estimated 3,000 young people crammed into a disused warehouse, no ID checks, alcohol and legal highs on sale, drugs openly being pushed, no free water available, and no paramedics on site, a legal requirement at events attended by more than 499 people.
Daniel took MDMA (ecstasy) for the first time at the rave, which was apparently very much like the one described, and he died from multiple organ failure after his body temperature soared to 42 degrees.
Although we do not know yet to what extent the rave environment itself played a part in his death, if it did not then it could have, and could do for another young person at a future event.
Through the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation, the charity we have set up in Dan’s memory, we are already warning young people in local schools of the risks of attending such events, and the risks of recreational drug use.
One of the projects we are looking at is to organise and run similar, but safe, events for young people in Croydon, that would provide a lot of the positive factors without the risks.
For more information visit our website dsmfoundation.org.uk and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/danielspargomabbs.
FIONA and TIM SPARGO-MABBS
The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation
- Send your letters to: letters@croydonguardian.co.uk
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