Mutiny Festival deaths: Mums of Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones insist children '˜must not have died for nothing'

TWO mums who watched their children die after taking ecstasy pills at Mutiny Festival have vowed to do all they can to stop future drug deaths.
Brook Hoar (left), and Janine Milburn met for the first time to speak about the death of their children, Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones, at Mutiny Festival in May. Picture: Ian HargreavesBrook Hoar (left), and Janine Milburn met for the first time to speak about the death of their children, Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones, at Mutiny Festival in May. Picture: Ian Hargreaves
Brook Hoar (left), and Janine Milburn met for the first time to speak about the death of their children, Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones, at Mutiny Festival in May. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

Grieving Brook Hoar, 38, and Janine Milburn, 41, spoke to The News as they met for the first time since Tommy Cowan, 20, and Georgia Jones, 18, died at the festival in May.

Speaking from Janine's home she shared with Georgia, the mums told of their children's harrowing final moments as they died at Queen Alexandra Hospital.

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Together Brook and Janine insist Tommy and Georgia must not have '˜died for nothing' as The News backs their call for better education on drugs and a change in attitude so drugs can be openly discussed. The pair also want testing facilities at festivals and in town centres.

Brook Hoar (left), and Janine Milburn met for the first time to speak about the death of their children, Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones, at Mutiny Festival in May. Picture: Ian HargreavesBrook Hoar (left), and Janine Milburn met for the first time to speak about the death of their children, Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones, at Mutiny Festival in May. Picture: Ian Hargreaves
Brook Hoar (left), and Janine Milburn met for the first time to speak about the death of their children, Tommy Cowan and Georgia Jones, at Mutiny Festival in May. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

They hope to speak to pupils and students in an effort to warn of the effects of drugs.  

'˜I don't want Georgia to have died for nothing,' Janine said.

'˜She was always the one who would go and help people. She would argue her way all the way there '“ even if she knew she was totally wrong.

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'˜That's what she would do, that's not me but I've got her thinking now. For her '“ something has got to happen.'

Georgia Jones died after taking ecstasy at Mutiny festivalGeorgia Jones died after taking ecstasy at Mutiny festival
Georgia Jones died after taking ecstasy at Mutiny festival

Both care assistant Georgia and dad-of-one Tommy fell unwell at Mutiny Festival at King George V Playing Fields on May 26 and later died in hospital. Inquests are due to take place next week.

Speaking about the day of Tommy's death, Brook told for the first time how she had been at the festival for four hours when she got word something was wrong before her phone stopped working.

Rushing into Cosham, Brook's phone started again '“ only to show she had 186 messages warning Tommy, who had only got a ticket last minute, had fallen unwell.

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'˜A message said 'you need to get to QA, Tommy's in intensive care',' Brook said.

Tommy Cowan died after taking ecstasy at Mutiny festivalTommy Cowan died after taking ecstasy at Mutiny festival
Tommy Cowan died after taking ecstasy at Mutiny festival

'˜As we got there, Damian, Tommy's father, was there. He was hitting a wall outside and his wife was stood there telling me it was bad.

'˜I was with him when he died '“ 10.47 '“ that's all I remember, I just remember them saying 10.47.'

Brook, who went to the same balloon release honouring Tommy and Georgia as Janine but who did not speak with her, added: '˜He wasn't a user, this is what we can't get our heads around.

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'˜I've just put one foot in front of the other. I've been in a daze really.'

Janine told how she got word Georgia was unwell '“ and rushed to Mutiny in time to join her daughter her in the ambulance.

'˜I went in the ambulance with her. Then they took her through into intensive care,' she said.

'˜I went into a family room. I've worked as an adult carer so I know what it's like when people are in the way.

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'˜I went in there thinking 'you do what you've got to do' - not thinking at all like anything like this would happen.'

Georgia fitted for 45 minutes '“ and medics eventually could no longer resuscitate her.

'˜We were then when they turned it all off - we were in the room with her,' Janine added.

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