What was meant to be a fun and carefree lads’ holiday to Ibiza turned into tragedy for 18-year-old Ryan Long from Eastwood, Essex.
On what was his very first trip abroad without his parents, Ryan’s life was cut short after he reportedly took an ecstasy pill during a night out, leaving behind devastated family and friends who are now speaking out to warn others.
Sudden Illness on Arrival Night
Ryan had just landed in Ibiza with four of his friends on Wednesday, July 2.
That same night, only hours into the trip, the group headed to UNVRS nightclub.
According to his friends, Ryan began acting strangely and said he felt unwell.
Though initially they thought it might be exhaustion or something he could “sleep off,” the situation quickly escalated when they returned to their accommodation.
Collapse, Coma and Final Words
Back at their lodgings, Ryan collapsed, fell unconscious, and began foaming at the mouth.
His friends immediately called for help, and he was airlifted to hospital in Palma de Mallorca.
The last word Ryan reportedly spoke before slipping into a coma was his brother’s name—Aaron.
He remained in intensive care for five days before passing away, with his parents by his side.
A Family’s Pain and Warning to Others
Ryan’s parents, Angela and Adrian Long, are now urging young people to think twice before taking drugs, especially while abroad.
Angela said she had always made it clear to her son to avoid drugs, but believes the sky-high cost of food and drinks in Ibiza may have pushed him toward a cheaper escape.
She mentioned drinks costing over 50 Euros each, which might have made a pill seem like an easier alternative.
“He Had So Much to Look Forward To”
Ryan was nearly done with his apprenticeship and would have turned 19 that weekend.
His father shared that Ryan hadn’t even unpacked his suitcase before he took the pill that ultimately ended his life.
“Everyone thinks nothing’s going to happen to them—but it does,” Adrian said, adding that his son’s story is, tragically, not unique.
Friends Left Traumatised by the Experience
Ryan’s friends are said to be “absolutely traumatised.”
One of them even rode with him in the ambulance, helping paramedics by operating the respirator as Ryan’s condition deteriorated.
Angela and Adrian praised the boys for doing everything right, but the loss of their son remains “so unfair” and “like a dream” they can’t wake up from.
The Devastation Spreads Through the Community
Ben Bradford, who runs the Ben Bradford Goalkeeping Academy (where Ryan was a long-time member), has created a GoFundMe page to support the Long family.
He described Ryan as a happy, talented teen who was passionate about football, DJing, and a massive Southend United fan.
Ben, who also coaches Ryan’s younger brother Aaron, said the tragedy has sent “shockwaves through the community.”
Remembering Ryan and Spreading a Message
Plans are in motion to honor Ryan’s memory with a minute of silence during academy sessions and perhaps more events in the future.
Ben said the GoFundMe isn’t just about money—it’s about the community showing love and support for a family going through unimaginable grief.
“If it covers funeral costs or helps build a memorial, it’s something,” he said.
Ryan’s Life Beyond the Headlines
Ryan wasn’t just a young man on a night out—he was a county-level swimmer, an avid scuba diver, and reportedly the youngest boy to earn an open water diving certification at a Cyprus scuba school.
His future was bright, his energy unforgettable, and his loss deeply felt.
A Message Young People Need to Hear
The people closest to Ryan hope his story becomes a wake-up call.
As Ben Bradford put it: “Young people need more education around this. They think, ‘It won’t happen to me’—but it can, and it does.”
His parents echoed the same message, urging others to remember that no one is invincible.