SURFER HAD ECSTASY IN HIS SYSTEM

Top Northland surfer Jamie Langridge, who collapsed and died at a
Pakatoa Island dance party this month, had enough Ecstasy in his
system to kill him.

His was the second Ecstasyrelated death connected to the dance party
scene. Ngaire O'Neill died in October 1998 after taking the so-called
love drug at a Karangahape Rd club.

Police said yesterday that toxicology tests had revealed that Mr
Langridge, a 24-year-old Whangarei builder, had "a relatively high
level" of Ecstasy in his blood.

The officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Senior Sergeant Stu
Allsopp-Smith, said it was difficult to determine just how many
Ecstasy tabs Mr Langridge had taken on the night of the party, but it
was "within the range that has been documented as having caused other
deaths."

He would not say whether the tests had shown that Mr Langridge had
taken other drugs such as speed or Ritalin.

"The only thing of interest was the [Ecstasy] ... It's now up to the
coroner to determine the cause of death."

The coroner is likely to confirm Mr Langridge's death as the country's
second linked to the drug, which is becoming increasingly popular in
the dance party scene.

Mr Langridge's mother, Dianne, said her son's death should serve as a
warning to others.

But she did not want to comment further until after the coroner's
hearing.

At her son's funeral, she told mourners how she had in her 20s become
addicted to prescription drugs, until she found her faith in Jesus.

She said drugs were ruining young people's lives and hoped her son's
death might encourage some to change their lifestyles.

Yesterday, the police renewed their calls for Ecstasy to be
reclassified as a class-A drug.

"There's a perception among some members of the public that designer
drugs are less harmful than other illicit drugs, but it's apparent
from some recent cases that using Ecstasy can be fatal," said
Detective Senior Sergeant Allsopp-Smith.

He said police were trying to "tie a few loose ends" before sending
their file to the coroner and it was too early to say whether anyone
might be charged in relation to Mr Langridge's death.

All those on Pakatoa island at the time of his death were photographed
and had their names taken by the police, a move that brought
controversy.

Overseas medical research suggests that Ecstasy, which sells here for
about $100 a tab, can cause severe health problems, including
irreversible damage to brain cells, hypothermia, irregular heartbeat,
high blood pressure and acute kidney failure.

It also causes associated psychiatric disturbances, manic disorders,
suicides and, in the longer term, a permanent state of depression,
anxiety, memory disturbance, heart and dental problems.

Ngaire O'Neill died from massive swelling of the brain, caused by
drinking excessive amounts of water.

Evidence presented at her inquest showed this was not because she was
thirsty but because the drug had stripped her blood of its vital
salts, causing her brain to swell.