My daughter, 19, got hooked on ‘zombie vapes' – then she plunged to her death from our home… my warning to parents
And when he replayed haunting footage of Shermaine, 19, staggering like a zombie moments before plunging to her death, he knew exactly what was to blame.
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The sight of her eerie behaviour was a familiar one, Delfard, from Singapore, told The Sun, as he detailed how Shermaine had been addicted to "zombie vapes" for nearly a year before she died.
The drug-laced vapes are more commonly known as Kpods in Southeast Asia - and are said to have earned this name as they are often spiked with ketamine.
Swarms of teens have been seen in public in a 'zombie-like' state after using the trending devices, with some users as young as 13 years old, shocking reports claim.
The alarming craze is rampant in Singapore - a nation with some of the world's toughest drug laws, where certain offences can mean the death penalty.
And even the UK is seeing a surge in drug-laced vapes - with substances ranging from Xylazine, also known as "Tranq", Spice and even ketamine reportedly found inside.
A bombshell study last year found one in six vapes seized from schoolkids in England were tainted with "zombie drug" Spice.
As a child, Shermaine was "always full of light... the kind of little girl who could walk into a room and instantly lift the mood", Delfard remembers.
She had big dreams of becoming a TikTok influencer, since she wanted to "make people smile and feel less alone".
But after being introduced to "zombie vapes" by pals, Shermaine was immediately hooked, her dad says.
Her addiction became so bad that on one occasion she filled "the whole house" with vomit.
My daughter, 19, got hooked on 'zombie vapes' - I watched as she plunged to her death… this is my warning to parents
The dad-of-one recounted the devastating 4am call he received from his aunt on September 22 last year.
Shermaine had been found dead at the foot of their apartment block.
After his daughter's death, Delfard, 43, watched the home's security cameras and saw Shermaine "shaking" while stumbling out the door in her final moments.
The footage left him in no doubt she was "under the influence" of Kpods when she plunged to her death from the 18th floor of their building in Tanjong Pagar.
Delfard told The Sun: "She said that the police were knocking at the door and asking for my daughter, Shermaine Tay.
"The inspector took over and told me that my daughter is gone."
He added: "I asked him, 'what do you mean by gone?'
"[The inspector] didn't say much, but he said that her phone was found on 18th floor, so most probably she dropped from there.
"I was shocked. I stayed there for half an hour, not doing anything."
Telltale signs
Shermaine's fall was ruled a suicide by authorities - despite cops not finding any notes as evidence for this on her phone or nearby.
And Delfard is convinced that her death was linked to months of abusing the illegal vapes.
Asked about how he was sure of this, the dad said: "Because I checked back the cameras on that day."
Her disturbing behaviour was a "symptom" of her being high on Kpods, he says.
He added: "The last I saw of her, [she was] shaking going out of the house, that's why I confirmed that she was under the influence."
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The logistics manager compared Shermaine's appearance on the day she died to how she had been acting in the days leading up to her death.
He detailed how he and his daughter had argued just days before she fell - when she vomited profusely.
"I had a quarrel with her and I asked her if she had taken any drugs, and she said no," he said.
"I looked back at the camera, she was convulsing, shaking... repeating the same thing over and over and over again.
"And on the day itself, I re-tracked the footage - it's the same thing."
Social service agencies in Singapore have reported swathes of youngsters who have experienced similar symptoms while using Kpods, Channel News Asia reported.
Common effects of using Kpods include "zombie-like" disorientation, confusion, aggression, unsteady walking, and sudden collapse, according to rehab centre Addictions Recovery Singapore.
They said: "We have seen evidence that vape liquids can also be clandestinely laced with ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and synthetic cannabinoids - often unknown to the user.
"At the forefront of this trend is a new street term: Kpods."
The surge in Kpod use has gripped Singapore - and victims' loved ones have taken to social media or local news outlets to tell of their frightening experiences.
Horrifying reports of drug-laced vapes have also rocked Britain - with claims some kids were left suffering seizures and chilling personality changes.
In one particularly shocking case in Singapore, a 56-year-old woman told how she was forced to restrain her 27-year-old son as he tried to leap out a window while high on Kpods in June, Shin Min Daily News reported.
The mum explained that her child had been hooked on "zombie vapes" since October 2024.
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Although Delfard tried tirelessly to persuade his daughter to give up her dangerous habit, most of these conversations ended in arguments followed by days of silence.
He said: "I asked her, 'why do you want to do this?'
"Singapore is a very strict country with drugs, and once you get caught you will be either under urine [drug test] regime or go to a drug rehabilitation centre, or prison."
Shermaine told her dad that when she had to do urine drug tests the results would fail to show any traces of them in her system.
This is because many Kpods contain etomidate - a fast-acting anaesthetic used in hospitals.
Kpod sellers boast about the substance being undetectable in urine tests - giving buyers a false sense of safety that they won't face harsh punishments in Singapore.
Operating on sites such as Telegram, dealers also encourage young people to risk buying them as etomidate is classified as a poison under Singapore's Poisons Act - and not as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
But authorities are set to change the rules.
Shermaine was doing urine drug tests once a week, according to her dad, but the doctors never flagged any drugs in her system.
When asked if he knew if his daughter had unknowingly consumed ketamine from her the vapes in the lead-up to her death, he said: "I just don't know."
The Kpod crisis has also affected Delfard's friend, who admitted to him that he was using Kpods.
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Describing his pal's zombie-like behaviour while using the vape, he said: "He just cannot stand well, and his leg is shaking."
Delfard said he also witnessed another person "drop backwards" while smiling after using them.
"Mostly teenagers are using these," he revealed, adding that Kpods were "a common thing now in Singapore".
He said: "I think some parents still don't know what this Kpod thing is about. They just maybe think that for children it is normal [for them to be] vaping."
But during government tests of 100 seized vapes, one in three Kpods were found to contain etomidate, Singapore's Health Minister said on July 20.
Although the devices are usually used to deliver nicotine, the minister said they can be "a delivery device for a range of substances, from nicotine to psychoactive substances such as etomidate, to hardcore drugs that are illegal".
Addressing the "invisible crisis", Delfard warned: "The government need to have help centres for teenagers.
"But more of it is actually individual parents - they need to know about their children's life, they need to look into the roots of it."
Delfard's advice to other parents is to show their children love - and to be involved in their lives.
He continued: "At the end of day it's their parents - do they show love? Do they really care about their children?
"Talk more about love with our children. Care about them. Look into their life. What's the root problem? Why are they taking this?"
The grieving dad added: "For me... I neglected her. I wanted to prove to her by example that we don't need to go to vices in order to survive.
"We don't need to take to take drugs to escape. But I'm a bit too late."
As a former addict, Delfard knows the harsh reality.
"I've been a drug addict before... I know how hard it is to come out of it," he said.
"Once they get addicted, it's not like they don't want to come out of it."
Delfard said he likes to remember Shermaine's big heart.
"She had a strong sense of fairness; she would stand up for her friends, share her toys without hesitation, and notice if someone was feeling left out," he said.
"I saw in her a mix of creativity, confidence, and kindness that made me believe she could inspire others."
The Singaporean government has announced plans to list etomidate as a Class C drug following soaring reports of laced Kpods.
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Teen plunged to death after 'addiction to zombie vapes' spiralled out of control
Delfard Tay is convinced his daughter Shermaine, 19, was killed by the highly addictive vapes known as "Kpods," which are often laced with ketamine and other substances A devastated father has recalled his daughter's harrowing final moments before plunging to her death after struggling with an addiction to drug -laced vapes. Delfard Tay stood helplessly over his only child as she vomited uncontrollably, a terrifying sign that her addiction had spiralled beyond control. Just days later, 19-year-old Shermaine was dead. It comes after the tragic cause of death for 'The Girl Who Never Ate is revealed. When Delfard replayed the CCTV footage of his daughter stumbling like a zombie before falling to her death from their apartment block, he immediately knew what had caused it: drug-laced vapes known as "Kpods." The Singaporean father told The Sun how Shermaine had been hooked on the highly addictive vapes for nearly a year. Kpods, often laced with ketamine and other substances, are named for the trance-like, zombie state they induce - particularly among young users. Reports from across Southeast Asia describe teenagers as young as 13 collapsing or behaving violently after using the vapes. Despite Singapore's notoriously strict drug laws - where some offenses carry the death penalty - the use of Kpods has exploded. Even the UK has seen a rise in vapes tainted with drugs like ketamine, Spice, and Xylazine ("Tranq"). One alarming study found that one in six vapes confiscated from schoolchildren in England contained the synthetic drug Spice. Shermaine, described by her father as a bright, cheerful child who dreamed of becoming a TikTok influencer, fell into addiction after trying the vapes with friends. As her dependency worsened, Delfard says she became unrecognisable - vomiting constantly, convulsing, and speaking in repeated loops. The breaking point came on September 22 last year. At 4am, Delfard received a devastating call from his aunt. Shermaine had been found dead at the base of their apartment building in Tanjong Pagar. Later, when Delfard reviewed the security footage from that night, he saw his daughter stumbling and shaking as she left the apartment. Her phone was later found on the 18th floor, confirming his worst fears. 'She was under the influence,' he said. 'The way she walked, the way she moved… it was the same as before, when she was high on Kpods.' Authorities ruled her death a suicide, though no note was found. Delfard remains convinced her fatal fall was the result of drug use. Delfard also recalled the arguments they had in her final days, particularly one incident where she vomited throughout the house. When confronted, Shermaine denied using drugs. But the security footage told a different story, as her body trembled and her movements appeared erratic. Social services in Singapore have reported numerous similar cases involving young users of Kpods. Common symptoms include confusion, aggression, disorientation, and sudden collapse. According to Addictions Recovery Singapore, vape liquids are often laced with potent substances like ketamine, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and synthetic cannabinoids - often without the user's knowledge. A major concern is etomidate, a powerful anaesthetic commonly found in Kpods. Although it can severely affect behaviour and consciousness, it often goes undetected in routine drug tests. Dealers advertise this on Telegram, telling buyers they won't get caught because etomidate falls under Singapore's Poisons Act, not its drug laws. Shermaine had been undergoing weekly urine tests, but no drugs were ever detected - another reason Delfard believes she felt safe continuing to vape. The Kpod crisis has also affected Delfard's friend, who admitted to him that he was using Kpods. Describing his friend's zombie-like behaviour while using the vape, he said: "He just cannot stand well, and his leg is shaking." Delfard said he also witnessed another person "drop backwards" while smiling after using them. 'It's mostly teenagers using these,' he said. 'And many parents still don't realise what Kpods are. They just think their kids are vaping nicotine.' Recent government testing confirmed that 1 in 3 seized vapes contained etomidate. Health officials warned that while vapes are often assumed to contain only nicotine, they are now being used to deliver powerful psychoactive substances - and even hard drugs. Delfard is now calling for more support systems to be put in place for struggling youth. 'The government needs to set up help centres for teenagers,' he urged. 'But more importantly, parents need to stay involved in their children's lives. They need to understand what's really going on.'
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11 hours ago
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My daughter, 19, got hooked on ‘zombie vapes' – then she plunged to her death from our home… my warning to parents
STANDING over his only child as she retched uncontrollably, Delfard Tay knew his daughter's addiction had spiralled out of control. And when he replayed haunting footage of Shermaine, 19, staggering like a zombie moments before plunging to her death, he knew exactly what was to blame. 16 16 The sight of her eerie behaviour was a familiar one, Delfard, from Singapore, told The Sun, as he detailed how Shermaine had been addicted to "zombie vapes" for nearly a year before she died. The drug-laced vapes are more commonly known as Kpods in Southeast Asia - and are said to have earned this name as they are often spiked with ketamine. Swarms of teens have been seen in public in a 'zombie-like' state after using the trending devices, with some users as young as 13 years old, shocking reports claim. The alarming craze is rampant in Singapore - a nation with some of the world's toughest drug laws, where certain offences can mean the death penalty. And even the UK is seeing a surge in drug-laced vapes - with substances ranging from Xylazine, also known as "Tranq", Spice and even ketamine reportedly found inside. A bombshell study last year found one in six vapes seized from schoolkids in England were tainted with "zombie drug" Spice. As a child, Shermaine was "always full of light... the kind of little girl who could walk into a room and instantly lift the mood", Delfard remembers. She had big dreams of becoming a TikTok influencer, since she wanted to "make people smile and feel less alone". But after being introduced to "zombie vapes" by pals, Shermaine was immediately hooked, her dad says. Her addiction became so bad that on one occasion she filled "the whole house" with vomit. My daughter, 19, got hooked on 'zombie vapes' - I watched as she plunged to her death… this is my warning to parents The dad-of-one recounted the devastating 4am call he received from his aunt on September 22 last year. Shermaine had been found dead at the foot of their apartment block. After his daughter's death, Delfard, 43, watched the home's security cameras and saw Shermaine "shaking" while stumbling out the door in her final moments. The footage left him in no doubt she was "under the influence" of Kpods when she plunged to her death from the 18th floor of their building in Tanjong Pagar. Delfard told The Sun: "She said that the police were knocking at the door and asking for my daughter, Shermaine Tay. "The inspector took over and told me that my daughter is gone." He added: "I asked him, 'what do you mean by gone?' "[The inspector] didn't say much, but he said that her phone was found on 18th floor, so most probably she dropped from there. "I was shocked. I stayed there for half an hour, not doing anything." Telltale signs Shermaine's fall was ruled a suicide by authorities - despite cops not finding any notes as evidence for this on her phone or nearby. And Delfard is convinced that her death was linked to months of abusing the illegal vapes. Asked about how he was sure of this, the dad said: "Because I checked back the cameras on that day." Her disturbing behaviour was a "symptom" of her being high on Kpods, he says. He added: "The last I saw of her, [she was] shaking going out of the house, that's why I confirmed that she was under the influence." 16 The logistics manager compared Shermaine's appearance on the day she died to how she had been acting in the days leading up to her death. He detailed how he and his daughter had argued just days before she fell - when she vomited profusely. "I had a quarrel with her and I asked her if she had taken any drugs, and she said no," he said. "I looked back at the camera, she was convulsing, shaking... repeating the same thing over and over and over again. "And on the day itself, I re-tracked the footage - it's the same thing." Social service agencies in Singapore have reported swathes of youngsters who have experienced similar symptoms while using Kpods, Channel News Asia reported. Common effects of using Kpods include "zombie-like" disorientation, confusion, aggression, unsteady walking, and sudden collapse, according to rehab centre Addictions Recovery Singapore. They said: "We have seen evidence that vape liquids can also be clandestinely laced with ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and synthetic cannabinoids - often unknown to the user. "At the forefront of this trend is a new street term: Kpods." The surge in Kpod use has gripped Singapore - and victims' loved ones have taken to social media or local news outlets to tell of their frightening experiences. Horrifying reports of drug-laced vapes have also rocked Britain - with claims some kids were left suffering seizures and chilling personality changes. In one particularly shocking case in Singapore, a 56-year-old woman told how she was forced to restrain her 27-year-old son as he tried to leap out a window while high on Kpods in June, Shin Min Daily News reported. The mum explained that her child had been hooked on "zombie vapes" since October 2024. 16 Although Delfard tried tirelessly to persuade his daughter to give up her dangerous habit, most of these conversations ended in arguments followed by days of silence. He said: "I asked her, 'why do you want to do this?' "Singapore is a very strict country with drugs, and once you get caught you will be either under urine [drug test] regime or go to a drug rehabilitation centre, or prison." Shermaine told her dad that when she had to do urine drug tests the results would fail to show any traces of them in her system. This is because many Kpods contain etomidate - a fast-acting anaesthetic used in hospitals. Kpod sellers boast about the substance being undetectable in urine tests - giving buyers a false sense of safety that they won't face harsh punishments in Singapore. Operating on sites such as Telegram, dealers also encourage young people to risk buying them as etomidate is classified as a poison under Singapore's Poisons Act - and not as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. But authorities are set to change the rules. Shermaine was doing urine drug tests once a week, according to her dad, but the doctors never flagged any drugs in her system. When asked if he knew if his daughter had unknowingly consumed ketamine from her the vapes in the lead-up to her death, he said: "I just don't know." The Kpod crisis has also affected Delfard's friend, who admitted to him that he was using Kpods. 16 16 16 Describing his pal's zombie-like behaviour while using the vape, he said: "He just cannot stand well, and his leg is shaking." Delfard said he also witnessed another person "drop backwards" while smiling after using them. "Mostly teenagers are using these," he revealed, adding that Kpods were "a common thing now in Singapore". He said: "I think some parents still don't know what this Kpod thing is about. They just maybe think that for children it is normal [for them to be] vaping." But during government tests of 100 seized vapes, one in three Kpods were found to contain etomidate, Singapore's Health Minister said on July 20. Although the devices are usually used to deliver nicotine, the minister said they can be "a delivery device for a range of substances, from nicotine to psychoactive substances such as etomidate, to hardcore drugs that are illegal". Addressing the "invisible crisis", Delfard warned: "The government need to have help centres for teenagers. "But more of it is actually individual parents - they need to know about their children's life, they need to look into the roots of it." Delfard's advice to other parents is to show their children love - and to be involved in their lives. He continued: "At the end of day it's their parents - do they show love? Do they really care about their children? "Talk more about love with our children. Care about them. Look into their life. What's the root problem? Why are they taking this?" The grieving dad added: "For me... I neglected her. I wanted to prove to her by example that we don't need to go to vices in order to survive. "We don't need to take to take drugs to escape. But I'm a bit too late." As a former addict, Delfard knows the harsh reality. "I've been a drug addict before... I know how hard it is to come out of it," he said. "Once they get addicted, it's not like they don't want to come out of it." Delfard said he likes to remember Shermaine's big heart. "She had a strong sense of fairness; she would stand up for her friends, share her toys without hesitation, and notice if someone was feeling left out," he said. "I saw in her a mix of creativity, confidence, and kindness that made me believe she could inspire others." The Singaporean government has announced plans to list etomidate as a Class C drug following soaring reports of laced Kpods. 16 16
