Porirua 8-year-old put in coma after ingesting synthetic cannabis

Police said the children did not smoke the drug, and investigators are still trying to work out how it got into their systems. Photo / File

An 8-year-old boy had to be placed in an induced coma for several days after apparently eating synthetic cannabis with his dinner.

The child is one of three who were rushed to Wellington Hospital on September 9 in an "almost comatose" state from ingesting the deadly substance.

The Porirua children, aged 5, 8 and 14, were all from the same family. An ambulance was called by the children's mother when they began to show the effects of ingesting the drug.

"By the time they all arrived at hospital their condition was described as almost comatose. One child in particular was having difficulty breathing," said Detective Senior Sergeant with Kapiti-Mana Police, Grant Ferguson.

The boy had to be intubated and put into an induced coma in the ICU, where he stayed for several days.

The children had not smoked the synthetic drugs, and while inquiries are continuing, at this stage it appears they ingested the drugs "through the food that they ate for dinner".

No drugs were found at the house, Ferguson said.

"Police are still trying to unravel the facts. In part that is being made difficult by, we believe family members hold the key to this, and that someone from within that family group knows what has happened but to date that information hasn't [come out]."

The children were released from hospital five or six days after being admitted, but are now being cared for by another family member.

"The medical people were extremely concerned, particularly by the middle child's condition. They held the greatest concern and everyone is thankful that he was able to pull through."

The message is not getting through. This is fatal stuff.

Grant Ferguson

Ferguson said the child was a "very lucky boy".

Synthetic cannabis was first suspected by the paediatrician in charge, who recognised the symptoms the children were displaying. Urgent testing and analysis proved the suspicion to be correct.

Police and the chief coroner have revealed that 20 people have died so far this year as a result of suspected synthetic drug use.

Ferguson said this case highlighted the "absolute risk" people were taking by using synthetic drugs.

"I just wish people would listen to the warnings being given, because we've had too many deaths lately.

"The message is not getting through. This is fatal stuff.

"People need to leave this stuff alone. It's killing people up and down the country."