Teenager, 18, tells how she 'stopped breathing' after being injected with date rape drug GHB in a nightclub, before being rushed to hospital

A teenager has told how she stopped breathing and “nearly died” after being injected with the date rape drug GHB on a night out with her family.

Maddi McCormack, 18, said she had a severe seizure that caused her to stop breathing for several seconds and woke up in hospital with an injection mark, where staff told him that he had been injected with the medicine.

She was celebrating her brother's 26th birthday at Popworld in Southend, Essex, on June 15, when she was attacked by an unknown assailant in the early hours of the morning, she said.

Maddi, a bar worker, fell to the floor and began convulsing, spitting and choking on her tongue in a corner of the nightclub.

She didn't realize she had been injected with gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, also known as GHB, until she woke up at Southend University Hospital with a puncture mark in her right thigh .

The hospital later informed her that she had been injected with GHB, she said.

Click here to resize this module

Police are investigating and Maddi spent two nights in hospital recovering from the spike.

Maddi, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said: “I collapsed and passed out. I was having convulsions, I stopped breathing.

“I just remember waking up in the hospital, attached to wires.”

Maddi went to a nightclub to party with a group that included her brother, Dean Quinlan, her sister, Taylor McCormack, her sister-in-law, and her sister's boyfriend.

She had agreed to work at the bar on Sunday, so she said she was taking the night off sensibly.

She said she drank three Disaronnos and Coca-Colas, but started feeling extremely drunk around 3 a.m., at which point she texted her mother to say she had ” fear “.

At no time during the night did she notice that she had been injected or that anyone had hit her.

When she collapsed, a doctor from the nightclub rushed to her aid and an ambulance was called.

Maddi spent Sunday night and most of Monday in hospital, with the attack having a profound impact on her outlook on nightlife.

She said: “Going out is so dangerous – we don’t talk about it enough.

“No, tomorrow is not promised. Always look over your shoulder, because this can happen to anyone, male or female.

The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called at 3.53am on June 16 to reports of a person “having difficulty breathing” in Warrior Square, Southend on Sea.

Click here to resize this module

The service confirmed an ambulance transported a woman to Southend University Hospital for further treatment.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a social media post circulating describing an incident which we believe should be investigated.

“We have therefore made contact with the victim in this case and visited him to advance the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“These investigations are continuing.

“We still urge any victims to contact us.”

A spokesperson for Stonegate Group, which runs Popworld, said: “We take the safety and security of our customers very seriously and have put in place a number of measures to best protect our customers to ensure that 'They have a good night. out.

“This includes enhanced searches at our doorstep by our fully trained SIA door team; Ask Angela; a first response team and a dedicated doctor on duty, who was on scene just before an ambulance was called.

“We also supply beverage test strips, beverage lids and bottle toppers.

“The location is completely covered by 24-hour video surveillance.

“We ask customers to always remain vigilant and report any suspicious or unusual behavior as we all work together to provide a safe environment.”

“We have been in contact with the guest and wish her a full and speedy recovery.”

GHB is an illegal Class B drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant and can reduce inhibitions, disorient and cause confusion.

A GHB overdose can lead to loss of consciousness, coma and death.