Stephen Taylor, 46, is fighting for his life in hospital after collapsing in Birmingham city centre, with police investigating a potentially contaminated batch of the drug Mamba. His family say he is unlikely to pull through.
Mr Taylor collapsed on Temple Row, by Pigeon Park, having taken the Class B drug on Monday, October 19. He is now in the Intensive Care Unit at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick.
Sister's warning after cardiac arrest
Stephen's sister, Dawn French, 48, from Wigan, went public with her brother's case to warn others of the dangers. She told BirminghamLive: "He's in end of life now - it's heartbreaking."
"He had a cardiac arrest and went for around 30 minutes with no oxygen. It took a long time to get his heart restarted," she said. "He's alive, but every doctor and every specialist I've spoken to so far said he's not going to make it."
Ms French said police told her about the Mamba: "They don't know what it's been cut with and are awaiting toxicology (results). It's not just Stephen, the police said there are other people who are affected."
Police confirm arrest and other cases
West Midlands Police said a small number of other people in the same area may also have become unwell due to the same drug, but did not require hospital treatment. A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and remains in police custody.
A police spokesman told BirminghamLive: "We were called to reports of a medical emergency in Birmingham city centre at around 4.40pm on Monday (19 October). A man was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition, and we're working to investigate whether this was linked to potentially contaminated drugs."
Family's plea and support
Ms French said: "I wanted to warn people about it. I don't want anyone else to go through this. I only just got him back into the church. He was doing so well. He was in the Old Snow building for years with support, then around seven months ago he moved into his own flat and was doing so good. He's ended up going and getting some (Mamba) again and this has happened."
Mamba, also known as 'Black Mamba', is a man-made synthetic cannabinoid. Police are liaising with public health colleagues and patrolling the city centre alongside partners including drug charities, reminding people of the risks of taking illegal substances and helping vulnerable people access support.
