North Mackay: Boy, 15, dies after ingesting unknown substance

A young boy who died in hospital after ingesting a mystery substance has been identified as friends mourn their ‘little broskie’ and police investigations continue.

Friends are mourning a 15-year-old boy who died in hospital after a suspected drug overdose that also hospitalised five other teens.

Jerome Banu died early Friday morning in Mackay Base Hospital after ingesting an unknown substance believed to be a drug.

Jerome, along with five others aged 12-16, were at the Malcomson St home with a 36-year-old woman when he went into cardiac arrest just after 10.20am.

He was unconscious when paramedics arrived about 10.30am, and a search of the home quickly found five other teens with “high blood pressure” in other rooms.

QAS senior operations supervisor Ross Vickers said they were not advised of any other patients until they arrived on scene.

“The case started to unfold from there,” he said.

Police were on scene at a North Mackay home on Thursday after a teenage boy was reportedly taken to hospital, with five others receiving treatment. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“We found more and more patients located through different rooms of the house.

“The information provided from one or two individuals was that there were more and more people involved.

“There was high levels of anxiety involved and most of the patients had a high blood pressure and their hearts were racing much faster than normal.

“The general appearance and behaviour from the other children on scene eventually was one of disbelief and shock.

“I think this incident really does highlight the high risks involved when people ingest substances of an unknown nature.”

Two 15-year-old girls and a second 15-year-old boy were discharged from the hospital Thursday afternoon.

A 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy remained in hospital in a stable condition on Friday.

Police rushed to a North Mackay home on Thursday after teenage boy was reportedly taken to hospital, with five others receiving treatment. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Police were last night awaiting toxicology and blood test results to identify the substance, and detectives spent Friday speaking with the recovered children and the woman at the home.

Detective Inspector Tom Armitt dismissed the possibility Jerome’s death was because of a trend.

“We’re following up on a number of possibilities, whether the substance was prescription or otherwise, or a combination of both,” Inspector Armitt said.

He said the exact nature of the substance could only be confirmed through a pending toxicology report, but firmly dismissed the idea the substance had anything to do with the once popular teenage ‘tide pod challenge’ trend.

“We extend our sympathy to friends and family at this time,” he said.

“We do not currently know what the children ingested.

Jerome Banu, 15, died after a mass ingestion incident at a Malcomson Street home in North Mackay on Thursday, September 30. Picture: Supplied

“We will have to wait for results of blood tests and toxicology in order to confirm what the substances were.

“So this matter is now subject to a coroners investigation and as such, police will be conducting a number of inquiries and interviewing those people present at the address including the affected children in order to determine the facts and the circumstances leading up to the calling of emergency services.”

The incident has sent shockwaves through the Mackay community as friends posted tributes to Jerome on social media.

One friend said he was struggling to believe Jerome was “gone”.

“Just wish I could’ve at least been there before god took you into he’s (sic) hands just to say goodbye and thank you for all the fun times we had,” he wrote.

“I’ll never forget ya my little broskie.”

Another wrote: “Love ya. You always stay above me.”

Another wrote: “Rest in peace my brother boy you will be missed. You were too young.”