
I told my 18-year-old girl ‘I love you, be good' as I waved her off to a festival… then got the call every parent dreads
TUCKED away in Janine Milburn's car is a pair of trainers belonging to her beloved daughter Georgia Jones.
On her bed is a cushion, made from one of Georgia's favourite jumpers.
7
7
7
But Georgia isn't away at university, or travelling the world, tragically Janine will never see her beloved daughter again.
It has now been almost seven years since Georgia, 18, died from an MDMA overdose at Mutiny festival in Cosham near their home in Havant.
For Janine, 48, the loss of her daughter in May 2018 remains unbearable but, as festival season begins, she's determined to spare another mother the same agony.
Janine, who lives with Georgia's stepdad, health and safety investigator Daniel Milburn, 48, now campaigns for drug awareness going into schools to talk about the issues.
She says she never could have imagined that her daughter would have fallen victim to the peer pressures of casual drug use.
Worryingly you can buy two pills of ecstasy for a fiver from a ruthless dealer who just wants to offload his stock and you don't have a clue what's really in it.
Janine Milburn48
The support worker says, 'Georgia was meeting her friends at the festival and as I waved her off, my last words were, 'I love you, be good, be careful, I'll see you when you get home'.
'Instead at 4.30pm I got the call every parent dreads.'
Georgia's older sister, Danielle, now 28, who was at the festival with her old friends told Janine that Georgia was with the paramedics.
'Two friends of theirs had found Georgia on her own, stumbling, gurning and barely coherent,' Janine says.
'Then she started fitting, which lasted for 50 minutes. I got to the festival just in time to see her being loaded into the ambulance.
'At that time I didn't think it was that serious – I even told Daniella to stay and enjoy herself, thinking there was no reason to ruin her day.'
Tragically Janine was wrong.
Georgia had taken the class A drug ecstasy (MDMA) at the festival.
The drug raises the body temperature and Georgia's was off the scale and her body went into shut down mode - her heart stopped twice in the ambulance.
When they arrived at the hospital Janine waited in the family room while medics fought to save Georgia's life.
Just 40 minutes after they arrived her heart had stopped again and the consultant advised Janine to call in family members to say their goodbyes.
'It felt unreal,' remembers Janine.
'I couldn't believe it was happening.
7
7
'Strangely I felt cross with her, it was such a waste of such a beautiful girl.
'Doctors came in and told us that her heart had stopped again, her lungs were filling with blood and stomach acid and vomit and there was nothing more she could do.'
Georgia was pronounced dead at 8.20pm, just six hours after taking the drug.
'Nothing prepares you for losing a child,' Janine says.
'All I could think was why, why did she take those pills?
'We stayed with her in the room, saying our goodbyes until 11.30 that night. I was numb with grief – it was horrendous.'
The family held her funeral at the local crematorium, on 22 June 2018.
'We had a horse drawn carriage and a beautiful white hearse,' Janine says.
'Hundreds of people came, everyone wore something yellow as it was her favourite colour and we played Rise Up by Andra Day.
'Afterwards we went to her favourite pub – it was her last party and she'd have loved it.'
Despite her crushing grief Janine was determined from the start to try to warn others about how fatal ecstasy could be – posting on Facebook about her beloved daughter's death in the hope that it would stop people from taking the drug.
Janine says, 'There was a stigma from the start about her death – as if she hadn't been brought up properly if she ended up taking drugs.
'But Georgia wasn't into drugs.
'Like many teenagers she'd dabbled with weed and tried cocaine, but she hadn't touched drugs for months and was working in a care home for people with learning difficulties which she loved.
'She was friendly and outgoing but not a party animal. She loved going to the cinema or just curling up at home on the sofa with her border collie dog Maysie, and she adored horses.
'She was just an ordinary teenage girl.
'That's why I campaign and go into schools to talk about drugs.
'We mustn't shut down the conversation but keep talking about it, to raise awareness that Georgia could be any one's daughter.'
At Georgia's inquest in November it was confirmed she'd taken two double strength MDMA pills which caused her organs to fail.
Tragically Georgia wasn't the only young person to die at the festival, Tommy Cowan, 20, also died after taking two of the high dose 'Silver Audi' pills.
At his inquest the coroner, David Horsley said there was a 'drugs culture' surrounding festivals, one he felt that more and more young people were falling victim to.
Janine agrees and as well as talking to pupils at school about the dangers, she campaigns to make festivals safer for young people by having facilities to test drugs on sites.
She says, 'The only good thing that can possibly come from this is raising awareness that might save other people.
'We need to talk about the realities of drugs, teenagers need to be educated about them.
SIGNS YOUR TEEN IS BUYING DRUGS...
A TEEN's changing behaviour could indicate any manner of mental health problems, says Gillian Collier, regional child criminal exploitation lead for drug and alcohol charity We Are With You.
But these actions could signal your child is buying drugs online…
THEY LEAVE THE ROOM EVERY TIME THEIR PHONE PINGS
IF your teen starts using the phone less in your presence, it could be a sign they are hiding something from you.
Watch out for them leaving the room as soon as they get a notification.
Or they might just turn it onto silent constantly.
THEY BECOME VERBALLY ABUSIVE
TEENS can go into fight or flight mode when faced with being caught out.
They might start shouting, crying or having a tantrum if they feel they're in danger of being discovered with drugs.
THEY HAVE A NEW GROUP OF FRIENDS
ONE of the main indicators of substance abuse is a new friendship group.
Bluebirds fly with bluebirds – those using substances usually hang around with each other.
They might also leave people they have been pals with for years.
THEY'VE STARTED TO DRESS DIFFERENTLY
YOU may see your teen trying to fit in, especially if they've started hanging out with new people who use drugs.
One minute they're in Levis with long hair, and the next they're in tracksuit bottoms with cropped hair – as that's what their new group wears.
THEY'RE DISAPPEARING MORE AND MORE
THEY could be leaving the house and not coming home for a few hours.
They might want to stay out longer to wait for the effect of the drugs to wear off.
Do they smell different? Have their eyes changed? Look at behaviour when they return.
THERE'S A CHANGE IN THEIR APPETITE
THERE are many reasons why young people might experience a change in appetite, including mental health issues.
And different substances can have different effects.
For instance, cannabis users might get hungrier, while cocaine and amphetamines can make you lose your appetite.
'Georgia took those pills blindly, she didn't have a clue what she was doing or about safety.
'Worryingly you can buy two pills of ecstasy for a fiver from a ruthless dealer who just wants to offload his stock and you don't have a clue what's really in it.
'Being at a festival is a perfect storm, you feel like you're almost in a different world, there are distractions, other people on drugs, you let your defences down.'
With festival season once more approaching Janine is worried about other people falling victim to drugs.
She says: 'I get so frustrated, there are so many things that could be put in place, bag searches need to be far more rigorous, there should be drug testing so young people at least know what they're getting, there should be more security and less people allowed in – many are getting bigger every year.
'And this year I'm sure there will be more deaths, more parents joining the club that no one wants to be in – I always reach out to them when it inevitably happens.'
Janine says that, while her family has celebrated happy occasions since Georgia's death, moving on has been near impossible.
She explains: 'Georgia's death was devastating, I still grieve for her every day, Danielle has two sons now – they both have George for their middle name – it's agonising that they'll never know their aunt.
'And even such happy occasions as having a grandchild are tinged with grief, because I so want Georgia to be there and part of them.
'The dress she was supposed to wear for the next day of the festival still hangs in her wardrobe.
'I still wear her outdoor coat and I wear the Pandora bracelet I gave her for her 18th, it was supposed to be filled with charms, one for every birthday instead it's just got the first one we bought – an amethyst.
'I will never be the same person, and above all I have such a fierce longing to see her again.
'That's why I have to talk about her, even if I just stop one other person from taking drugs and save one other mother from feeling this pain, then it's worth it.'
You can find out more about Janine's work at Georgia Jones Don't Go with the Flo.
7

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Rapper Silentó gets 30-year sentence for murdering own cousin after getting felony charge dropped despite video evidence
RAPPER Silentó will spend 30 years in prison for shooting his cousin to death in 2021. Silentó, real name Ricky Hawk, is best known for his viral 2015 song Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae). 2 2 Hawk, 27, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another. The Atlanta rapper was originally indicted on a felony charge of malice murder, but took a plea deal for lesser charges. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Hawk shot his cousin, Frederick Rooks III, dead early on the morning of January 21, 2021. Rooks, 34, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his face and leg. It is still unclear what led up to the shooting. Home security camera footage from the scene caught several cars speeding away and captured at least one gunshot, cops said. Hawk admitted to the shooting in an interview with investigators several days after it occurred, according to the DeKalb district attorney. Bullet casings found at the scene also matched a gun Hawk had when he was arrested. At the sentencing on Wednesday, Rooks' siblings said Hawk's sentencing should have been harsher. "We just want justice,' Rooks' brother told the judge, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. In 2021, Hawk's manager released a statement after his arrest asking fans for their support. "Please send my client Silentó some positive vibrations," the manager, Chanel Hudson, said at the time. "Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses. "We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer and positive energy!! "Ricky is a beautiful soul, and we hope that the same people who came up whipping' & nay nay-in with him, continue to support him and lifted in prayer!! God bless." RISE TO FAME Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) was released when Hawk was just a junior in high school in Stone Mountain, Georgia, near Atlanta. The song charted globally and started a social media trend of people doing a dance associated with the song. Hawk's first full-length album came out in 2019. The next year, Hawk was arrested twice - once for driving 143 miles per hour on the highway and another time for breaking into a random home in Los Angeles with a hatchet. Hawk's sentence includes credit for the time he's served in DeKalb County Jail since February 1, 2021.


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Thousands of cans of Dr Pepper recalled over risk of major health problems
Health officials have recalled 19,203 12-ounce cans of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar after discovering that they are 'full of sugar'. The Food and Drug Administration announced a voluntary recall of the 12-pack and 24-pack cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar last month. However, the federal agency updated the severity of the recall to Class II - meaning that the use of any Dr Pepper Zero Sugar can cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences. The recalled cans were produced by the Pepsi Beverages Company in Jacksonville, Florida and were sold to retailers in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The term 'Zero Sugar' indicates that the product has been made with no sugar in any form. However, since these cans have been mislabeled and found to contain the same amount of sugar as a regular Dr Pepper can, they could create a health risk for diabetics or others who need to limit their sugar intake or avoid it altogether. A regular 12-ounce can of Dr. Pepper contains 39 grams of sugar, according to its nutrition facts label. The recalled Dr Pepper Zero Sugar cans have the product code XXXXRS05165 with a 'best by' date of Feb. 16, 2026. Although this notice doesn't advise what to do if with the recalled soda, the FDA notes on its website that recalled products can often be returned to the store where they were purchased. If that is not possible, the agency recommends safely disposing the product.


BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Rapper Silento sentenced to 30 years for shooting cousin to death
Atlanta rapper Silento has been sentenced to 30 years in prison over the killing of his cousin in 2021. The 27-year-old, known for his hit song, Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), pleaded guilty but mentally ill on Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter and other charges in the shooting of his 34-year-old cousin. Advertisement Silento, whose legal name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, DeKalb County district attorney Sherry Boston said in a statement. Hawk also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, possessing a gun while committing a crime and concealing the death of another. A murder charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement. Rapper Silento achieved fame with his hit song Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) in 2015 (Drew Gurian/Invision/AP) DeKalb County police found Frederick Rooks III shot in the leg and face in the early morning hours of January 21 2021 outside a home in a suburban area near Decatur. Police said they found 10 bullet casings near Mr Rooks' body, and security video from a nearby home showed a white BMW SUV speeding away shortly after the gunshots. Advertisement A family member of Mr Rooks told police that Silento had picked up his cousin in a white BMW SUV, and GPS data and other cameras put the vehicle at the site of the shooting. Silento confessed about 10 days later after he was arrested, police said. Ballistics testing matched the bullet casings to a gun that Silento had when he was arrested, authorities said. Mr Rooks' brothers and sisters told DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney L Johnson before sentencing that Silento should have received a longer sentence, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Advertisement The rapper was a high school junior in suburban Atlanta in 2015 when he released Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) and watched it skyrocket into a dance craze. Silento made multiple other albums, but said in an interview with the medical talk show, The Doctors, in 2019, that he struggled with depression and had grown up in a family where he witnessed mental illness and violence. 'I've been fighting demons my whole life, my whole life,' he said in 2019. 'Depression doesn't leave you when you become famous, it just adds more pressure,' Silento said then, urging others to get help. 'And while everybody's looking at you, they're also judging you.' Advertisement 'I don't know if I can truly be happy, I don't know if these demons will ever go away.' Silento had been struggling in the months before the arrest. His publicist, Chanel Hudson, has said he had tried to kill himself in 2020. In August 2020, Silento was arrested in Santa Ana, California, on a domestic violence charge. The next day, the Los Angeles Police Department charged him with assault with a deadly weapon after witnesses said he entered a home where he did not know anyone looking for his girlfriend and swung a hatchet at two people before he was disarmed. Advertisement In October 2020, Silento was arrested after police said they clocked him driving at 143 miles per hour on Interstate 85 in DeKalb County. Ms Hudson said at the time of Silento's arrest in the killing of Mr Rooks that he had been 'suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses'.