Music entrepreneur and YouTube star Jamal Edwards died of arrhythmia as a result of recreational drug use, his mother said.
Edwards, who helped launch Dave and Ed Sheeran’s careers, died in February at the age of 31. Loose Women singer and panelist Brenda Edwards said in a statement Tuesday that she was in a “state of shock” after finding out how she died. .
“Unfortunately, I have learned that the cause of Jamal’s devastating death was due to cardiac arrhythmia,” he said. “[This was] caused by having taken recreational drugs and I myself wanted to address it to everyone who loved, admired and respected my son.
“I have been in shock since I heard the news and I am still trying to process it. But it’s so important to me that I approach it because no mother or loved one should go through what Jamal’s sister, Tanisha, and I have been through since she died.
The 53-year-old woman posted the statement on Twitter and Instagram after an investigation into her son’s death was carried out in West London forensic court.
Forensic scientist Catherine Wood said Jamal Edwards “returned home late one evening after work and became increasingly agitated and suffered a cardiac arrest, and was deteriorating despite treatment.”
He said after an autopsy that he had “reason to suspect that death is an unnatural death.”
Brenda Edwards said she was “incredibly moved” by the outpouring of love and support the family had received since Jamal’s death. “You’re all helping us try to get over the unimaginable,” he said.
He described his son as having “the world at his disposal: an illusion of life and unwittingly took it too soon.”
“However, we have to accept what has happened, and Jamal is proof that this can happen to anyone.
Brenda Edwards: “I would do anything to get my son back.” Photo: Ken McKay / ITV / Rex / Shutterstock
“Such substances are extremely unpredictable, and we can only hope that this will encourage others to think carefully when faced with similar situations in the future. Their death has shown that any wrong decision at any time can have devastating consequences.” .
He stressed the importance of helping to “convert more” on the unpredictability of recreational drugs and their impact: “how it only takes a bad reaction to destroy lives.”
“I would do anything to get my son back, but that’s not possible, so if I can help save a life, we’ll have achieved something,” he said.
The investigation revealed that Jamal Edwards died on 20 February after having a cardiac arrest at his mother’s home in Acton, west London. It was postponed to resume in eight weeks.
He rose to fame after setting up the SBTV music platform in 2006, and was credited with helping launch a number of UK music events to stardom. He was also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity run by the Prince of Wales, and in 2014 was named MBE for his music services.
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Her mother’s statement read: “I am incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished in her 31 years; I’m very proud of my son. “
Several of her Loose Women co-panelists, including Jane Moore and Judi Love, left messages of support in response to the statement.
“This must have been very painful to write,” Nadia Sawalha wrote. “She is OK. Sending love to you and your amazing kids. That doesn’t change anything. [Jamal] achieved so much. He was a very good man. “