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Gregory Robinson
A heartbroken mum of a teenage girl who died after taking ecstasy has urged parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drugs.
Lila-Grace Smith, 17, took the drug for the first time at a sleepover with her friends in June.
Her parents Emma Hargreaves, 40 and Campbell Smith, 41, thought that their daughter’s friend’s parents were in the house during the sleepover, but the friends were home alone.
According to her family, a police investigation has taken place but no one has been charged in connection with Lila’s death. It is currently unknown where the friends got the drug from.
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It is believed that Lila-Grace became ill after taking the drug and her two friends didn’t call an ambulance for two hours because they were scared about getting in trouble.
The teen passed away due to a cardiac arrest after being rushed to hospital.
After their devastating loss, Emma wants parents to have conversations about drugs – and what to do if someone needs medical help – with their children.
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“I think you can tell kids to not take drugs but they don’t listen because they think they’re invincible and that it won’t happen to them,” the mum from Keighley, West Yorkshire, said.
“The most important thing is that if you are with your friends taking drugs, and one of them seems slightly off, you need to ring an ambulance or get help straight away.”
Emma, who also has two sons, said she felt 'heartbroken' when she found out the news as she 'never thought it would happen' to her daughter.
She paid tribute to Lila-Grace, who she said was 'just beautiful inside and out' and loved spending time with her family.
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"She was just really confident, lively, intelligent and outgoing. She was funny and kind, and she just wore her heart on her sleeve.
"Lila loved going on family holidays, to family BBQs and family parties.
"We've got a really big family and that's what her life was based around really. I just felt heartbroken and shocked mainly.
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"You just never think it would happen to you or your child."
Lila-Grace’s death comes after Leah Hayes, 15, collapsed and died in a car park in Northallerton, North Yorkshire after taking MDMA in 2019.
Leah's mum Kerry Roberts fronted a campaign last month, urging families to have 'early and positive' conversations about drugs and alcohol.
Emma supported Kerry's campaign, adding: "We thought Lila was going to a sleepover at her friends - we didn't think they would go and take MDMA.
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"Just talk to your children about it and how dangerous it is.
"Tell them that if they are with someone who has taken drugs and they are even slightly concerned about them, they need to ring an ambulance straight away.
"Instead of worrying about how they might get into trouble, they need to worry about how they might be saving a life."
You can donate to the sponsored walk to raise money for two memorial benches for Lila-Grace. The remaining funds will be donated to mental health charity MIND and the Leah’s law campaign.
West Yorkshire Police have been contacted for a comment.
Tyla has also reached out to West Yorkshire Police for comment.