The parents of a student have spoken of their anguish as they wait to see if their son recovers from a drug overdose.
The 17-year-old Colchester Institute student collapsed after taking what is believed to be amphetamines while with a group in Witham.
He was taken to his home in the town where his shocked parents described him as "not making any sense".
His mother said: "He was like the living dead. He was completely grey and didn't even look like my son."
They rushed him to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, after the incident on Thursday afternoon, where he later suffered a brain haemorrhage.
He was transferred to Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, in a critical condition on Friday afternoon. He is now off the critical list but is still in a very serious condition.
His father said his son's behaviour was completely out of character for a boy he said was the clever one of the family and a dedicated student.
He said: "We just can't believe this has happened to him. All we can do is play a waiting game to see if he will recover."
A 16-year-old girl from Witham has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of providing the drugs.
A 39-year-old Witham woman has been arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance. She was released on bail.
A 21-year-old Halstead man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply. He has also been released on police bail.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, November 28, 2005
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