Survivor of cocaine drinking tragedy thanks God

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Jamal Waterman, the lone survivor after the gruesome death of his brother, mother, stepfather and friend, following the drinking of cocaine-laced SSS tonic, has said he is doing okay and feeling strong.

Although he cannot remember what exactly occurred on the day when the victims met their demise, after ingesting the poisonous substance, he is “thanking God for keeping him alive.”
“There is a reason why I’m alive, I hope all will be well with me and I hope my life doesn’t come to a disaster. I miss my mom and little brother and I hope my family takes good care of me,” the pre-teen added.
He recalled drinking some orange juice after feeling upset and assumed “that might have been the reason I’m standing here today.”
The cocaine-mixed SSS tonic, along with some other foodstuff, was taken to their house by a man known to them, for further transport to New York by a family member but the latter refused to take it, stating that the U.S. has many tonics to sell and he was not going to New York but to Pennsylvania.

NOT KNOWING
The Blair family then decided to use up the tonic and the foodstuff, not knowing cocaine was in the mix.
Jamal Waterman; his seven-year-old brother, Jahaquel Blair; his mother, Simone Pryce; stepfather, Alex Blair; and friend, Natasha George all drank the liquid mixture.
After the two children, Jamal and Jahaquel started to feel upset, Jamal took a drink of some orange juice and a few minutes after, Jahaquel began to vomit.
His mother, Pryce, then called her neighbour, George, who is her best friend, to savour the brew and she remarked that it did not taste like tonic.
Minutes later, after Pryce, too, had an upsetting feeling, the others realised that something was definitely wrong. Alex Blair, with the help of George then took Jahaquel, Jamal and Simone to seek medical attention.
However, as doctors tried to save the lives of the Pryce family, her best friend Simone died and was followed by Blair in minutes.
Then the two children were left fighting for survival but, unfortunately, Jahaquel also succumbed.

(By Asif Hakim)