EXCLUSIVE: Five women spiked in one night at the Foundry in Sheffield

Five women were spiked on the same night out at University of Sheffield event Roar, with one remaining unconscious for over five hours.

6 October saw the group of women targeted across multiple separate incidents, with three of them ending up in hospital.

A close friend of one of the victims, who would like to remain anonymous, said: “It was really scary, especially with my housemate because obviously I know her really well.

“It was scary to see her so distressed because that’s not normal for her. She’s normally fine, loves clubbing, and all of that so that was really odd.”

In the same evening, the medicine student was notified in a group chat for her dance society, that a possible member of their club had been spiked and was closeby.

When she arrived it was clear the women had fallen unconscious with no phone, ID or friends around. Security had found her lying on the floor alone.

She added: “And then also to see this girl who was completely unconscious for a good 5 hours at least. That was so scary.

“I didn’t want to leave her, so I stayed with her in A&E and it was a really scary thing to see someone so completely out of it, and have no idea where they are.

“I didn’t want to leave her because she had no phone or ID so if she woke up, she was obviously going to be in an unusual place which would have been horrible for her, and she would have no way of getting home or able to contact anyone.”

The student took the unknown girl, and her two other friends who had been spiked, to A&E to seek treatment.

She spent the night and following morning in the hospital with her friends and the unconscious woman, who was unresponsive until 9am the next morning.

Four of the five women were from the cheerleading society at the University, the other (unconscious) woman was not identified.

The medicine student believed the cheerleaders were spiked with an MDMA based substance, due to their hyperactive and uncontrollable state, but blood work ran by the hospital came back inconclusive.

She believed the other woman they took to A&E must have been spiked with rohypnol due to her being unconscious.

Following the spikings last week, the Foundry have since issued advice on how to stay safe when clubbing and will supply drink covers from all of their bars.

(Example of exclusive story I completed for 3rd year news project at university)