‘I thought I was going to die’: Hobart mum recalls terrifying drink spiking incident

A Hobart mum has spoken of her terrifying ordeal where she lost her vision and the ability to move after her drink was spiked.

POLICE Minister Michael Ferguson has slammed drink spiking as a “reprehensible” act and those caught doing it would be severely punished.

It comes after a Hobart mum Mandy Marmion says her wine was spiked while out in Salamanca Place at a work function on Friday night.

In an emotional video posted to Facebook she said she thought she “was going to die” after losing her vision and the ability to move about 11.35pm.

Another social media post reported a second incident in Hobart on the same night at a venue on Liverpool St.

Last night I had the most terrifying experience of my life. I was in Salamanca with my work colleagues and my drink was...

Posted by Mandy Marmion on Saturday, 15 December 2018

Mr Ferguson said Tasmania’s laws took a zero-tolerance approach to drink spiking.

“As Health Minister, as Police Minister, as a husband and father it makes me feel sick to the stomach to know that somebody would do this to another person in our community,” he said.

“It’s virtually a form of assault and taking somebody’s independence away from them.

“This is not on, you can’t get away with this.

Police and Health Minister Michael Ferguson. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“It’s a crime and if you’re caught doing this you’ll be severely punished.”

Mr Ferguson said Tasmania Police had indicated they would be taking “very firm approach” to any drink spiking and would follow up wherever possible to catch the perpetrator.

He said it was a good reminder in the lead-up to the festive season to look out for each other.

Ms Marmion said the incident happened “so quickly”.

She said when she realised what had happened she went outside and called her husband, a paramedic, for help.

“I just remember begging him to help me,” she said.

“I proceeded to have a full panic attack and thought I was going to die, I remember saying to him to tell my girls I love them.”

She said she collapsed and landed on her shoulder and her face before a St John Ambulance crew helped her until her husband arrived.

Mandy Marmion says she was a victim of drink spiking over the weekend. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

She said it was the most terrifying experience of her life and she was still scared.

“I lost all motor skills, I could not move without huge assistance,” she said.

“My brain was looking at my body, but I couldn’t make it move or respond.

“I didn’t leave my drink, I was in a nice place, bright lights and it was terrifying, so be careful.”

She told the Mercury she had reported the incident to police.

She was also treated for concussion at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Sunday.

Tasmania Police said they were investigating a report of drink spiking in the Hobart area that occurred on Friday night.

Sexual Assault Support Service chief Jill Maxwell. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Sexual Assault Support Service chief executive Jill Maxwell said it was obvious the behaviour was prevalent within clubs and bars around Hobart but she was unsure if there had been an increase recently.

“To have someone that would deliberately jeopardise somebody’s health is concerning,” she said.

Ms Maxwell said the community needed to stand up, call out and confront those responsible.

She said all incidents should be reported to police so they could investigate and hold people to account.

Ambulance Tasmania said paramedics responded to another incident in Salamanca just after 2am on Saturday morning where a drink may have been spiked.

However, the victim wasn’t required to be taken to hospital.