Student’s lucky escape as horse tranquilliser put in drink

A STUDENT had a lucky escape after a horse tranquilliser was slipped into her drink on a night out.

The 20-year-old woman had been out with friends when her body became paralysed at a nightclub in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

She had to be rushed to Letterkenny General Hospital where she was treated before being released.

Doctors at the hospital told the woman it was almost certain that her drink had been spiked with a drug — most likely ketamine.

The medic also told the woman that this was the second case presented at the hospital in less than a month.

Local GP Dr James McDaid attacked those responsible for spiking the woman’s drink, saying they could have killed her.

“Doing something like that is absolutely lethal. Ketamine is a dangerous barbiturate that can cause breathing problems or heart failure.

“There is also the danger of a person choking on their own vomit while unconscious,” he said.

The woman was still in shock at what had happened to her.

“I was absolutely horrified. All I could think was — thank God I’m still standing here today,” she said.

Anti-drugs campaigner PJ Blake said he was saddened but not surprised by what had happened.

“When are people going to wake up and realise what is happening out there?

“These type of things are happening all the time.

“We have four dead youngsters already in our county because of drugs.

“How many more do we need before something is done,” he said.