“PLEASE don’t take drugs, they ruin lives and families.”

Those were the chilling words of the heartbroken mother of a Taunton teenager who died having taken what is suspected to have been ecstasy. 

Reece Murphy, 16, died on July 2 at Musgrove Park Hospital after he collapsed while out with a group of friends.

Now his mum, Sarah Lush, has issued a stark warning to young people saying drugs ‘ruin lives and families’.

“He took a tablet with his friends. There was something in it that had a bad reaction - his body didn’t like it,” Sarah said.

“It shut down his organs, one by one.”

Somerset County Gazette:
Reece with his mum, Sarah Lush

And she had a chilling warning for young people in a bid to avoid them going through the horror her family has experienced.

“Today, drugs are a lot stronger than they used to be and people are just chucking anything in them like rat poisoning, you just don’t know,” she said. 

“A majority of you may think drugs are all good and fun and games but at the end of the day they’re not, because it can end someone’s life, just like poor Reece’s. 

“Reece had done it a few times before and was okay, so he thought he was safe, but you just don’t know. 

“Please don’t take drugs, they ruin lives and families.”

Sarah thanked ‘amazing’ staff at Musgrove Park Hospital who cared for Reece before he passed away.

“Musgrove Park Hospital was amazing, he had two nurses working on him 24 hours a day. They never left his side or stopped fighting for him for a second,” she said.

“They were exhausted, bless them, but they kept fighting for him right until the end. 

“In spite of that, Reece just kept getting worse and in the end there was nothing more they could do. 

“It would have been cruel to him because all the medication he was on it started to take its toll on his body.”

The grieving mum paid tribute to her son, who she said was an ‘incredible and special young boy’ who had his ‘whole life ahead of him’.

“He was the most funny, kind, caring kid and was loved by so so many,” Sarah said. 

“He had left school and he was looking at going to collage in Taunton to do a demolition course. 

“He was a handsome boy with his whole life ahead of him and he had so many memories to make. 

“The messages and the support I have had and the amount of people that want to help and do something good for Reece has been so overwhelming. 

“My heart is empty, I want to wake up and it’s all a dream. I can’t imagine my life without him in it. 

“I’m never going to hear his voice or laugh again.

“It’s all surreal at the moment and I’m not ready to accept it.”

READ MORE: Barber in fundraising bid for Reece Murphy appeal

Somerset County Gazette:
Reece, who was described as a 'funny, kind and caring' child, when he was younger

Since his death, more than 1,200 people have liked a Facebook page called ‘Raising Awareness for Reece’, to pay tribute to the teenager and urge young people to stay away from drugs.

Ebony Billet, a close friend of Reece’s who set up the page, said: “Reece was a kind-hearted kid, he thought the world of his mum and mates. 

“He would always give me advice when I was down and cheer me up on call. 

“I will miss his voice and the cheeky smile he did on Facetime on Facebook and playing Fortnite online with him and his mates. 

“He never deserved this and I will miss him truly.”

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed they are investigating the death of a 16-year-old boy in Taunton.

"We’re investigating an incident in Taunton in which a teenager died after consuming a substance, believed to be MDMA," a spokesman said.

"A 16-year-old boy located by paramedics in Wheatley Crescent in the early hours of Saturday, June 30, was taken to hospital but sadly died two days later.

"We’re carrying out enquiries in the local area focussing on when, where and how the victim obtained the drugs."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 5218143998.