Latest news with #TheGirlWhoNeverAte
Daily Mirror
3 days 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.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman who refused to eat for the first decade of her life choked on her own vomit, inquest hears
A woman who refused to eat for the first decade of her life choked on her own vomit, an inquest heard. Tia-Mae McCarthy, 21, baffled doctors as a child with her refusal to eat, surviving on tube feeds until she was a teenager. Her case drew national attention and was the subject of a 2006 TV documentary, The Girl Who Never Ate, which followed her mother Sue's search for answers. The 21-year-old from Fordingbridge, Hampshire, was born 12 weeks premature and weighing just 2lb 3oz, spent much of her first year in hospital. She was diagnosed with oesophageal atresia, a rare condition where the foodpipe does not connect to the stomach. She underwent surgery at three months old to move her stomach into her chest. Although the surgery meant she was physically capable of eating, she refused all food and had to be fed through a tube while she slept. Her mother, Susan McCarthy, believed it was psychological, linked to repeated medical trauma in her early months when she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. Then, at the age of ten, she suddenly accepted a spoonful of yoghurt – the start of a remarkable transformation that saw her ditch her feeding tube by the end of 2012. By 15, she was eating a full diet, from mac and cheese to salmon and venison. But she was found unresponsive in bed at her family home on April 28 this year. An inquest in Bournemouth heard the oesophageal surgery she had as a baby left her at lifelong risk of aspiration, food or liquid entering the airway, which could 'happen at any time'. The inquest heard she had a 'rattly' cough for about a week before her death. In a statement read to the court, her mother said her daughter had developed a cough about a week before her death, which was not unusual for her. She added: 'We were planning to go on holiday. 'On Sunday, I noticed her cough was a bit rattly. I was with Tia all day on Sunday - we went out for a coffee. 'She was really bright and cheery and enjoyed her time at the riding club. 'I messaged Jason (Tia's stepfather) and asked if Tia was OK, he told me she was still croaky. 'I messaged Tia to see if she was OK, and she replied to say yes, and this was the last time I had communication with her.' Her step-father, Jason Allman, had propped her up with extra pillows the night before she died to help her cough and breathing. The mother said she went upstairs the following day and discovered her daughter unresponsive in bed with the covers off, and realised she had died. Her step-father, Jason Allman, had propped her up with extra pillows the night before she died to help her cough and breathing. A post-mortem found vomit in the main and peripheral airways, with stomach fluid and remnants of the mac and cheese she had for dinner the night before. While Tia did have other disabilities, there was no medical reason after the surgery why she could not eat food and her case baffled the experts. Tia was featured in the documentary in which her mother took her to a specialist clinic in Austria. The controversial research programme even included periods of controlled starvation. Tia had other learning difficulties, which meant she could not live independently, and she still lived at home with her mother. She enjoyed riding and attended an adult day centre. In a police statement read to the court, officers said there were no suspicious circumstances and praised the care Ms McCarthy received from her family, saying: 'We attend a lot of vulnerable people - Tia was incredibly well supported and cared for by her mother and stepfather.' Recording his conclusion, Mr Allen said: 'I am satisfied on the basis of the circumstances that the cause of death is gastro-oesophageal aspiration. 'Tia-Mae McCarthy had a past medical condition which left her at increased risk of aspiration. She died as a consequence of a recognised risk factor of a previous surgical procedure.'
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Tragic cause of death revealed for 'The Girl Who Never Ate'
Tia-Mae McCarthy, 26, from Fordingbridge, Hampshire, could not eat solid food for the first 10 years of her life and died from a complication linked to a childhood surgical procedure A woman who could not eat solid food for the first 10 years of her life died from a complication linked to a childhood surgical procedure, an inquest has heard. Tia-Mae McCarthy, 26, from Fordingbridge, Hampshire, was found unresponsive in bed at her family home on April 28 this year. At a hearing in Bournemouth on Wednesday, Dorset coroner Brendan Allen said Ms McCarthy died from 'aspiration due to gastro-oesophageal surgical procedure (post operation)' carried out when she was a baby. The inquest heard the earlier surgery, which left her stomach in her chest cavity, was necessary because she was born with oesophageal atresia - a rare condition where the oesophagus and stomach do not connect. Mr Allen said her underlying health issues placed her at a high risk of aspiration - where food, liquid, or other material enters a person's airway and eventually the lungs. He said this could have happened 'at any time', and recorded a conclusion of an unnatural death. A post-mortem examination on May 1 concluded there had been vomit in the main proximal stomach, with the stomach located in the chest cavity as a result of Tia's operation. Ms McCarthy was born 12 weeks premature and spent much of her first year in hospital. Although the surgery meant she was physically capable of eating, she refused all food and had to be fed through a tube while she slept. Her unexplained aversion to food was the subject of a 2006 television documentary, The Girl Who Never Ate, which followed her mother's search for answers and included trips abroad for specialist treatment. At the age of 10 she suddenly began showing interest in soft foods such as yoghurt, soup and ice cream, and by 15 she had a normal appetite, with salmon, venison and scallops among her favourites. In a statement read to the court, her mother, Susan McCarthy said Ms McCarthy liked horse riding and animals and had a 'simple lifestyle'. She did not drink or smoke, was not in a relationship and was not in employment because of her special needs. She said her daughter had developed a cough about a week before her death, which was not unusual for her. She added: 'We were planning to go on holiday. 'On Sunday I noticed her cough was a bit rattly. I was with Tia all day on Sunday - we went out for a coffee. She was really bright and cheery and enjoyed her time at the riding club. I messaged Jason (Tia's stepfather) and asked if Tia was OK, he told me she was still croaky. 'I messaged Tia to see if she was OK and she replied to say yes, and this was the last time I had communication with her.' She said she went upstairs the following day and discovered her daughter unresponsive in bed with the covers off, and realised she had died. Ms McCarthy's GP, Dr Lilly Chutter, from Fordingbridge Surgery, said she had last been seen at her annual learning disability review in December 2024, when she appeared happy and no concerns were identified. Her stepfather, Jason Allman, who was the last person to see her alive, told the court in a statement: 'She seemed fine. She was sitting downstairs doing her cross-stitch. 'I thought her cough was a bit croaky, she sounded a bit wheezy talking to me. I put her to bed, gave her some water and Lemsip. 'I went back upstairs and propped her up on her cushions. I heard Tia coughing occasionally and went to sleep. On Monday I went to work - I texted Tia to check if she was all right and there was no response.' In a police statement read to the court, officers said there were no suspicious circumstances and praised the care Ms McCarthy received from her family, saying: 'We attend a lot of vulnerable people - Tia was incredibly well supported and cared for by her mother and stepfather.' Recording his conclusion, Mr Allen said: 'I am satisfied on the basis of the circumstances that the cause of death is gastro-oesophageal aspiration. 'Tia-Mae McCarthy had a past medical condition which left her at increased risk of aspiration. She died as a consequence of a recognised risk factor of a previous surgical procedure.'
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
She didn't eat a bite until she was 10! Tia-Mae McCarthy ‘The Girl Who Never Ate' tragically died at 26
Tia-Mae McCarthy, whose rare and mysterious medical condition made her the focus of a heart-rending 2006 UK documentary titled 'The Girl Who Never Ate', has tragically passed away at the age of 26. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her early life story, defined by survival against immense odds and a baffling refusal to eat, resonated with millions and captivated the attention of medical professionals across Britain. Born 12 weeks premature and diagnosed with a rare congenital condition known as oesophageal atresia, Tia-Mae underwent life-saving surgery within her first months of life. Yet despite this, she did not eat a single bite of food by mouth for nearly a decade. For years, her mother, Sue McCarthy, became a determined figure in British media, seeking answers from specialists, doctors, and therapists who could not understand the psychological or physiological cause behind her daughter's refusal to eat. Tia-Mae's story became emblematic of both medical resilience and maternal perseverance. In time, she overcame her eating aversion, grew into a joyful, creative young woman with a love for horse riding and arts and crafts. Her sudden and unexpected death has left family, friends, and fans stunned. Born without a working esophagus, Tia-Mae's battle began at birth Tia-Mae's ordeal began at birth. She was delivered 12 weeks prematurely and diagnosed with oesophageal atresia, a rare and serious condition where the oesophagus does not form a continuous passage to the stomach. This defect affects approximately 1 in 3,500 newborns. At just three months old, surgeons performed a radical operation: Tia-Mae's stomach was relocated into her chest cavity so her digestive tract could function. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The surgery was considered successful, anatomically. However, what followed left the medical community bewildered. Despite being physically capable of swallowing, Tia-Mae showed a complete psychological aversion to eating. The Girl Who Never Ate : A national medical mystery As Tia-Mae grew, it became clear she wasn't developing a typical relationship with food. She refused to eat by mouth, even after doctors confirmed she could. From infancy through childhood, she was sustained entirely through overnight tube feeding, which delivered essential nutrients while she slept. In the documentary The Girl Who Never Ate, her mother Sue's desperate search for answers took center stage. The family sought out nutritionists, behavioral therapists, gastroenterologists, and psychologists. Yet, no one could offer a clear diagnosis or path forward. Theories included post-traumatic stress from early surgeries, severe oral aversion, sensory processing disorder, or food phobia—but none were definitive. Tia-Mae's case became symbolic of the limitations of modern medicine when it comes to the intersection of physical and psychological health. From tube feeding to gourmet tastes: Tia-Mae's remarkable turnaround Despite years of food therapy, it wasn't until age 15 that Tia-Mae slowly began to eat by mouth. The breakthrough appeared sudden, and she quickly developed a palate that surprised those around her—salmon, venison, and scallops were among her favorites. Her transition was not just nutritional; it marked a significant psychological shift. For the first time, she could enjoy social moments centered around meals and begin experiencing one of the most fundamental joys of human life. Though it took over a decade, Tia-Mae overcame what seemed impossible—a victory that inspired countless families facing similar struggles. Tia-Mae's joyful life, full of creativity and passion While Tia-Mae lived with developmental disabilities that prevented her from living independently or holding employment, she led a deeply fulfilling life. Her brother, Fin, now 22, spoke movingly to The Daily Mail about her personality and passions. 'She had a bit of a cough, but was otherwise well,' he recalled. 'Her mindset was a lot younger than her physical age… but she had a very full life. She loved horse riding, and she was really into her arts and crafts.' Tia-Mae found comfort in creativity. Whether it was painting, sculpting, or designing handmade gifts, her artistic expression was a cornerstone of her daily joy. Tia-Mae's untimely and shocking death Tia-Mae passed away suddenly and without warning at the age of 26. The precise cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and her family has expressed shock, noting she had only a mild cough prior. A GoFundMe page has been launched to assist her grieving family during this difficult time. The outpouring of support from across the UK underscores just how deeply her story touched hearts—both when she first appeared in the public eye and now, as people reflect on her short but inspiring life. Legacy and impact Tia-Mae McCarthy leaves behind a legacy of resilience, mystery, and quiet strength. Her story offered hope to families navigating rare medical conditions and complex behavioral disorders. The attention her case received helped raise awareness about feeding disorders and the psychological impact of early-life trauma. She is remembered not just for her early medical struggles but for the bright, loving young woman she became—an individual who defied odds and embraced life with joy, creativity, and passion.
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Woman Who Didn't Eat Food For First 10 Years Of Her Life, Dies Aged 26
A British woman who did not eat food for the first decade of her life and was fed through a tube has died at the age of 26, her family announced, as per a report in The Telegraph. Tia-Mae McCarthy's mother, Sue McCarthy, found her unresponsive in her bed on April 28. The cause of her death remains unknown, but more tests are being carried out to ascertain how she died. "There was nothing abnormal. She had a bit of a cough, but was otherwise well," said her brother, Din, 22. "Her mindset was a lot younger than her physical age, so she couldn't live independently or have a job but she had a very full life. She loved horse riding and she was really into her arts and crafts." Ms Mae McCarthy's case baffled scientists across the globe as she received nutrients, vital to the human body's sustenance, through a tube while she slept for the first 10 years of her life. Born 12 weeks premature and weighing just under a kilogram, Tia-Mae had a rare congenital disorder called oesophageal atresia, which affects just one in 40,000 children. Since Tia-Mae's oesophagus and stomach were unconnected, she had to undergo a life-saving operation as a three-month-old toddler, where the two body parts were connected. For the first year of her life, Ms McCarthy recounts, her daughter spent most of the time in hospitals. Doctors baffled Despite having other disabilities, doctors could not pinpoint any medical reason for her refusal to food. Ms McCarthy suspected that it was a psychological problem that stemmed from the early months of her life when Tia stopped breathing multiple times and had to be resuscitated. Her case even featured in a 2006 documentary called The Girl Who Never Ate. As a desperate attempt, her mother took her to a specialist in Austria who ran a controversial research programme, which included periods of controlled starvation. Tia-Mae showed interest in food for the first time when she was 10. The tube keeping her alive was subsequently removed in December 2012, and by the age of 15, she had a normal diet. However, she was never able to live independently due to her disabilities.
