The family of a teenage schoolgirl who collapsed after taking drugs has released the final shocking hospital picture taken of her just before she died. Shakira Pellow, 15, passed away from multiple cardiac arrests and organ failure after she’s believed to have taken a blue tablet marked with the name ‘Duplo’. Her family says they want the youngster’s death to serve as a warning on the danger of drugs and made the difficult decision to release the image to show the horrifying reality of what could happen.
Shakira’s mum Rita Hole and her partner Lee Butcher, said when they took the picture they were convinced she was going to pull through. Three other 15-year-olds who were part of her group having a party on a field were also taken to the hospital and later recovered.
Lee, of Camborne, Cornwall, said: ‘It is the most awful picture and we discussed whether to release it or not. ‘However, we want to say to other teenagers, if you carry on taking this stuff, this is what’s going to happen to you. ‘Our Shakira is not coming back from this. This was her life and now it’s gone – it could easily be you.’