The family of a 14-year-old boy battling to stay alive after taking what is thought to be an MDMA-infused tablet have released a harrowing photo of him in his hospital bed.
Lennon McKay swallowed a red and white capsule at his home in the downfield area of Dundee and fell unconscious a few days before Christmas.
Now his loved-ones have decided to share a picture of the youngster hooked up to wires in a high-dependency unit to show the impact the drug has had on him.
Lennon McKay, 14, swallowed a red and white capsule at his home in the downfield area of Dundee and fell unconscious a few days before Christmas. His family released this photo to show the catastrophic effect the drug had on him
It is believed the pill Lennon swallowed contained a combination of substances including MDMA (ecstasy) and a type of amphetamine.
The St John’s High School pupil was taken to Ninewells Hospital and spent days in a coma, only waking up on Hogmanay.
But he remains seriously ill in the high-dependency unit and faces a ‘very long road’ to recovery.
![Lennon (pictured with cousin Rhylee Moodie) swallowed a pill believed to contain a combination of substances including MDMA (ecstasy) and a type of amphetamine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/06/19/47D1999500000578-5242249-image-a-9_1515267390192.jpg)
Lennon (pictured with cousin Rhylee Moodie) swallowed a pill believed to contain a combination of substances including MDMA (ecstasy) and a type of amphetamine
The circumstances in which the young boy took the pill remain a mystery.
But the incident prompted police to issue a warning to others about the tablets, with a 13-year-old boy also receiving treatment after taking a similar pill.
Lennon’s aunt Ashley Moodie, 37, spoke about the nightmare Lennon’s relatives have gone through – and how they were told three times that he could die.
‘We want people to see what this did to Lennon,’ she said.
‘He was unconscious for 10 days and during that time we were told three times to prepare ourselves for the worst.
‘We were also warned that if he did survive he could be brain-damaged.
‘Lennon has suffered liver, kidney and muscle damage as a result of taking this capsule.
‘He woke up on Hogmanay but remains very ill and is receiving dialysis every day.
‘He has also developed pneumonia.’
She continued: ‘Lennon has been allowed out of ICU but remains in the high-dependency unit in the Children’s Hospital.
‘His speech is still not back properly and he is still not able to walk – his muscles have broken down.
‘He is very frustrated and very withdrawn.
‘He used to be such a happy, cheeky, Jack the Lad boy – the life and soul.
‘We are now doing everything we can to try to lift his spirits.
![Lennon's family are selling 'Team Lennon' t-shirts to raise money for the Ninewells ICU and highlight the dangers of drug-taking](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/06/19/47C7148D00000578-5242249-image-m-3_1515267202595.jpg)
Lennon’s family are selling ‘Team Lennon’ t-shirts to raise money for the Ninewells ICU and highlight the dangers of drug-taking
‘This has been dreadful for the whole family, especially his mum Stacylee McCarron, dad Fraser McKay and step-mum Laura Smillie.
‘We were begging the doctors to do everything they could to keep him alive.
‘Lennon is very strong-willed and he has fought his way back so far but there is still a very long road to recovery.’
Lennon’s family are holding a full day and evening of events on 17 February and selling ‘Team Lennon’ t-shirts to raise money for the Ninewells ICU and highlight the dangers of drug-taking.
The events at the Ambassador pub begin at noon with face-painting, a bouncy castle and a magician for children, and there will be a DJ at night for adults.
‘We are so grateful for everything they have done for Lennon so far we want to repay them,’ said his aunt Ashley.
‘Everyone at the hospital has been amazing.
‘We wanted them to do everything they could for Lennon – and they did.
‘We also want to do everything we can to warn youngsters to avoid this drug – we don’t want anyone else to go through this.’