http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/04/21/parents-warning-over-teen-s-steroid-death-115875-21293382/Parents’ warning over steroid death of marine cadet teen Matt Dear
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By Rebecca Evans 21/04/2009
Matthew Dear
TRAGEDY: Matt Dear
A cadet aged 17 died yesterday after taking steroids in a tragic bid to get into the Marines.
Matt Dear suffered a fatal swelling to the brain when he tried a £30 black market batch of body-building pills.
Dad Chris, 43, of Southend, Essex, said: “He lived for joining the armed forces but fell to pieces before our eyes.”
After his death yesterday, his grieving family released this heart-wrenching photo of him as he vainly fought for life in hospital.
Mum Tina, 41, said: “He was my baby. and I can’t believe this has happened. We just hope that by sharing our pain over his tragic death we can help save someone else’s life and make them think twice about taking steroids.”
Dad Chris, 43, added sadly: “He was such a good kid – pure gold. He lived for joining the armed forces. But our healthy, strong son fell to pieces before our eyes because he took steroids.”
Part-time postman Matt – in the Army and Marine cadets since he was 12 – could not wait to take the gruelling selection test and join the real thing when he turned 18 in three months.
He spent hours in the gym and was so health-conscious he did not smoke, rarely drank and even shunned painkillers and chocolates.
Tragically, he undid all his good work when he secretly spent £30 on the black market pills three weeks ago.
Classroom assistant Tina, said: “He was so vulnerable and trusting. He would have taken them out of naivety as he wanted to be fit enough for the Marines.”
Matt, whose brother Peter, 16 was also a cadet, first fell ill two weeks ago after a barbecue.
His dad, also a postman, said: “I put it down to food poisoning. Even though he felt ill, he still went to work.”
But a week ago he took a turn for the worse – and came clean for the first time about the drugs. Chris, of Southend, Essex, said: “He said he didn’t know where he was. His pupils were the size of saucers and he seemed really ill.
“When paramedics arrived, Matt told them he’d taken steroids. This was the first we knew.”
Matthew Dear
CLOSE Matt, left, and Peter
His son went to hospital but was discharged the next morning when he felt better.
His father added: “I was still so angry at him for being so stupid and taking steroids that I told him off as we walked home.”
Matt seemed fine for most of the rest of the day. However, that evening he told Peter he could not see. He returned to hospital and a scan appeared clear, but after the first day he rapidly grew worse.
Chris added: “He said he felt he was drunk and had horrendous stomach pains. He was screaming out in pain. He was in such agony. It was unbearable to see.
“They moved him to the critical unit. They had to sedate him and he started to have fits. They did another scan and told us his brain had swollen.”
Matt, who had three brothers and a sister, finally lost his fight for life yesterday morning. Chris added: “They said his brain had died and his kidneys packed in.”
An Essex Police spokeswoman warned of the risks of steroids and said: “Health experts advise extreme caution before taking any non-prescribed performance-enhancing substances.”
dA youth, 17, a man, 21, and another man, 24, all from Essex, were arrested on suspicion of supplying a controlled substance and later released on bail.
