An Angus dad has spoken of the terrifying moment he thought his son had collapsed and died amid claims he was spiked.
Kieran Martin, 19, who says he does not take drugs, was out with friends in Arbroath when he became disorientated and sick.
After being taken home to his native Carnoustie by concerned police, dad Chris said his son became frantic and was hyperventilating.
While trying to calm him down, he says the distressed teenager suddenly collapsed and banged his head, knocking himself unconscious.
‘All of a sudden, his mind just went’
Describing the moment, Chris, his voice trembling with emotion, said he took hold of Kieran’s limp body, fearing the worst.
He said: “He was sitting on a chair at the table, I was just trying to calm him down, speaking to him, seeing what was going on, to find out what’s happened.
“Then, all of a sudden, his mind just went, his eyes rolled and he just folded in half over the table and his head hit the floor, and his body followed.
“So I grabbed him, and I actually thought I’d lost him then.”
The keen footballer was rushed to Ninewells Hospital but made a full recovery.
Night out began like any other
The situation unfolded after Kieran had visited Arbroath nightclub De Vito’s just after 11pm on Saturday, at which point he said he felt “fine”.
But later in the evening Kieran became unwell and, concerned for his safety, police decided to drive him home.
The joinery and carpentry student says he has little memory of the terrifying events but remembers being sick outside the venue and being in a police van.
“I don’t remember much, really,” he said.
“It was weird. I kind of felt like I was out of my body. I don’t really know how to describe it, it’s nothing like I’ve ever felt before.
“It kind of felt like I was floating about. Like outside my own body. I can’t really remember anything else.”
Club disputes version of events
Someone close to the family tragically died following an incident with drugs and as such, Kieran says he does not take them recreationally.
However, the owner of De Vito’s, Kevin Sivewright, says he disputes Kieran’s version of events – and that he has seen proof to suggest the drug was not administered inside his club.
He also told The Courier that De Vito’s has taken numerous steps to ensure the safety of revellers, and supported a closure of clubs earlier this year in protest against spiking incidents.
He said: “We took the decision to shut on behalf of the women who were being spiked.
“We have since got extra door staff in place and we are doing searches of nearby everybody that comes into the club.
“We have bent over backwards to try and eliminate this.”
Dad Chris, 42, a computer engineer who repairs mobile phones, said he got a call around 2.55am from police saying Kieran was unwell and they were taking him home.
Chris said: “When he came in here, he was punching doors and punching the table – because he was freaking out.
“He was going mental, trying to explain that he didn’t know what was going on.
“When it comes to drugs, if you’ve taken something and you know what’s going to happen, it’s probably easier for your body and brain to cope with it.”
Following his collapse, they were told an ambulance would take up to 50 minutes to arrive with Chris deciding to drive himself while on the phone to NHS 24.
“On the way through in the car, Kieran was just out of it,” said Chris.
“He doesn’t remember anything much of the car journey. I don’t think the bang to the head was anything to do with that, I think it was purely the drugs.”
Drug can lead to confusion and anxiety
Chris said he had spoken to friends including a nurse, who thinks Kieran ingested the drug ketamine.
The powerful anaesthetic can leave people feeling anxious and confused, as well as suffering from hallucinations, nausea and memory loss.
Chris said: “My friends that I’ve spoken to, they reckon it was ketamine. A few people reckon it could have been Rohypnol.”
Although often thought of as a “date rape” drug used to target women, Chris researched and read reports that Rohypnol is used on men as well, more often so they can be stolen from, as the tranquillizer takes effect.
Kieran said: “I’ve got no idea at all why someone would try and drug me.”
Warning over drugs
Chris said the incident had a profound effect on him. He added: “I’m not looking for sympathy.
“It’s to make people aware and warn them. I was sceptical of these recent reports of people being jabbed by needles, I didn’t think that could be happening up and down the country so quickly.
“I think the message I’d want to put out there is to be careful of where you are, who you’re with and what you’re doing.”
Police inquiries ongoing
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers assisted a young man on Sunday morning in Millgate after he was found unwell.
“As a result of information received, officers are conducting inquiries to establish if there has been any criminality.”
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