A mum has been left with a ‘life-altering’ brain injury after suffering seizures from a suspected spiking incident.
Simone White, 43, from South Gloucestershire, was enjoying bottomless brunch with her friends on Saturday, May 4.
However, her day out in Bristol transformed into a nightmare situation when she started to feel 'very funny' and suddenly collapsed on the street.
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Strangers apparently spotted the mum-of-three having seizures and that they were able to contact Simone’s partner George Mills, 53, and her parents.
She was then rushed to A&E where medical practitioners took her blood and administered some painkillers.
"I was scratching and clawing"
Speaking about the incident, the self-employed cleaner said: “I was very agitated. I had no control of my body at all. I was having episodes of consciousness and unconsciousness.
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"When I was conscious I was gurning, throwing things, going rigid and scratching and clawing."
Simone was deemed fit enough by staff to be discharged the following morning.
However, she alleged that she was struggling to speak and walk four days after her bottomless brunch experience.
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On 8 May, she headed back to hospital where she had an MRI scan and was examined by a neurologist.
It’s said that the medical practitioner believed Simone had suffered a functional neurological disorder (FND).
As per the NHS website, sufferers have a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body.
Symptoms can vary from person to person but can include; arm and leg weakness and seizures.
"This has been life-altering"
While waiting for the results of her MRI scan, Simone has admitted the impact the ordeal has had on her.
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“I loved a night out. I love drum and bass and festivals. Now it's made me feel unsafe.
"From my perspective, this has been life-altering. There are really long term damaging effects to being spiked.”
According to a recent study, seven in ten young adults have either experienced or witnessed drink spiking.
Simone is currently unable to work and doctors have allegedly advised her not to drive.
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Regarding the event, a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We're investigating an incident in which a woman required hospital treatment in a suspected spiking incident while visiting a bar in Bristol.
"She had been with a friend in Bristol city centre between 4pm and 6pm on Saturday 4 May before falling unwell and being taken to hospital.
"The incident was reported to police later that evening and enquiries are ongoing.”
They added that anyone who was at Tonight Josephine in Baldwin Street between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday 4 May should call 101 with any information.
A spokesperson for Tonight Josephine told Tyla: “Nothing is more important to us than our customers' safety.
“We have CCTV in all of our venues, spiking kits behind the bar, phone chargers in all of our sites and our staff are all trained to work with anyone who feels under threat in anyway.
“We are aware of an incident that is alleged to have taken place in Bristol last Saturday and can confirm that the victim did visit one of our bars late Saturday afternoon.
“We have comprehensive CCTV from the afternoon, which we have shared with the police, and confirm that upon full review at no point does anyone outside of the booking touch any vessel that she drinks from.”
They added that they are ‘devastated to learn of the potentially long-lasting effects that this might have on the victim.’
Topics: Crime
Ella Scott