Anna Wood’s drug death message falling on deaf ears, says her father Tony

Tony Wood feels so sad for the parents and friends of this young woman who has died, and for the family of the other woman who nearly lost her life.

Tony Wood in his Collaroy home in front of a portait of Anna done by family friend James Drinkwater . Tony was the father of Anna Wood who died of an ecstasy years ago . Tony will be attending the funeral on Friday for the latest Ecstasy victim Annabel Catt . 21/2/07 . pic John Grainger

It's just so bloody dreadful, it really is.

I feel so sad for the parents and friends of this young woman who has died, and for the family of the other woman who nearly lost her life.

It was 20 years ago last month that Anna’s mother Angela and I sat by her bedside in intensive care. I sat there praying she would come around although I knew she would be brain-damaged.

She was such a joy that I would have gladly looked after her for the rest of my life.

I am getting all teary and I thought I had got over that.

It might not be easy to listen to but I think we have to be explicit — it’s not an easy death.

Anna’s brain was pressing down on her spinal column. Her brain had swollen so much it would no longer fit her skull.

She went into hospital on the Sunday in a coma and on the Tuesday night we had to turn off her life support.

We hoped Anna’s death would make a difference, but we are not making progress against drugs. I think the pro-legalisation lobby has a lot to answer for. They keep on about harm reduction. They say just take the stuff safely.

But there is no safe way. You just don’t know what will happen when you take drugs.

The reason Anna took that ecstasy was the same reason most kids take drugs. They are fashionable and available.

We have to stop them being fashionable.

Tony Wood’s daughter Anna, 15, died on October 24, 1995, three days after taking an ecstasy tablet at a dance party.

 

 

Tony Wood in his home in front of a portrait of Anna / Picture: John Grainger