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A young football coach lost his life after consuming a tainted MDMA pill, a choice made due to its lower cost compared to alcohol, according to his family.
Kieran Bassett, hailing from Hastings, died on New Year’s Day. It is believed that he ingested the contaminated ecstasy tablet during a pre-party gathering at a friend’s home the previous evening.
The 20-year-old, described as ‘caring and generous,’ experienced a dangerously high fever and his condition rapidly deteriorated. His heart stopped, prompting an emergency rush to Conquest Hospital.
Despite being placed on life support, including ventilation and dialysis in an effort to cleanse his blood, his organs ultimately failed, leading to his passing.
Kieran, a dedicated Brighton & Hove Albion supporter, was employed as a car insurance renewals advisor. He was reportedly thriving, having recently discovered his career path, as shared by his father with the Daily Mail.
With two brothers and a sister, Kieran coached the under-11 team at Hollington Hawks Youth Football Club. He aspired to obtain his coaching certifications and had dreams of traveling and volunteering abroad to assist in building schools.
His father Mark Bassett said: ‘A pill being much cheaper than alcohol is the only reason I can think of that he would ever consider taking the drug because he had so much to live for.
Budding football coach Kieran Bassett died after taking a dodgy MDMA pill on New Year’s Eve
The avid Brighton & Hove Albion fan worked as a car insurance renewals adviser and was ‘flourishing’ having ‘just found his path in life’
The 20-year-old was described as ‘kind, caring, generous and an exceptionally lovely person’
‘Christmas is an expensive time and it’s not like it used to be, when you could go out for £20 or £30 and have a good night.
‘Now the price of bars, clubs, and £7 or £8 pints means you can easily spend £100 on a night out, whereas you can get the same buzz and same level of merriment out of a tablet.
‘The trouble is that people make these tablets as cheap as possible and God only knows what they are putting in them.
‘The police have said that it’s highly likely there was something wrong with the pill. It was tainted or laced with something else.’
The father rushed to the hospital after receiving an emergency phone call shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day.
Mr Bassett said: ‘One of the most haunting images that I don’t think I will ever get out of my mind was of him laying there, his life ebbing away from him, and his nose just running with blood and mopping it.
‘Me and his mum were just mopping away the blood. It was horrific.’
He urged young people to stop their friends from taking the drug.
The father said: ‘It’s just not worth it. You don’t know what you’re putting in your body. And if your friends are thinking of taking it, don’t be afraid to tell them to stop and to tell their parents too.
‘You may lose a friend but you may stop someone losing their life.’
Mr Bassett described his son as ‘kind, caring, generous and an exceptionally lovely person’.
He continued: ‘He played youth football and was aiming towards earning his coaching badges and becoming a third-generation coach – following his grandad and father.
‘He had a real passion for teaching the younger kids. He was never bothered about their ability, he just wanted to help them improve.
His father believes he took the ecstasy tablet because it was cheaper than drinking
The 20-year-old hoped to go travelling and volunteer abroad to help build schools
‘He was a big Brighton & Hove Albion fan and one of his ambitions was to become a season ticket holder to go with his dad and grandad.’
Hollington Hawks Youth Football Club said: ‘Kieran was more than just a coach — they were a mentor, a role model, and a constant source of encouragement for our children.
‘The time, energy, and love they gave to the U-11s team will never be forgotten, and their impact will live on in every player they helped shape.
‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Kieran’s family, friends, players, and everyone whose life they touched during this incredibly difficult time.’
Doctors were unable to stabilise Kieran’s blood pressure in hospital and said there was a high likelihood he would have suffered brain damage if he survived.
Kieran, who lived with his mother and brother in Hastings, had been working at Hastings Direct Insurance for 18 months and had just received a mini promotion which would see him mentoring new staff.
‘He was really excited about that,’ his dad added.
‘Our ambition as a family now moving forward is to create a legacy for Kieran, and to use his story as a catalyst to try and deter other kids from doing drugs.’
