'She didn't get the chance to learn from her mistake': Father's anguish after his daughter, 18, died from her first hit of liquid ecstasy - as he reveals the tragic final words she spoke to him
- The heartbroken father of a teenager who fatally overdosed has broken silence
- He urged children to avoid drugs so no other families would suffer like his has
- Marlu Cartmer-Congui, 18, fatally overdosed on liquid ecstasy in January
A father of a teenage girl who overdosed on liquid ecstasy at a high school house party has broken his silence on his daughter's tragic death and issued a desperate warning to young revellers.
Enzo Congiu is the father of Marli Cartmer-Congiu, 18, who died after taking 'liquid G' for the first time at a home at Randwick in Sydney's east on January 28.
He urged children to avoid drugs so no more parents are forced go through what he did when the Brigidine College student died.
Enzo Congiu (pictured) the father of the late Marli Cartmer-Congiu (pictured), 18, has broken his silence. He spoke out against youth drug use so no other families would suffer like his has
'To put it simply, you can't watch your children 24/7, no matter how well you raise them and trust them, this can happen to anyone,' he wrote in Connect, a Catholic school newsletter.
'Most people get to learn from their mistakes, but Marli didn't have that opportunity.'
'She was 18, not a drinker and had no real interest in drugs. We spoke about them often and she knew the risks.'
'We are all at a loss over what's happened, it was one of those stupid things teenagers do and has left us all completely heartbroken.'
Marli (pictured) took liquid ecstasy, also known as GHB or 'lirquid G', for the first time at a house party in Sydney's inner east over the Australia Day weekend
Marli planned to take a gap year to travel and work in her father's hair salon after completing her HSC last year.
She wanted to be a nurse and study at the Australian Catholic University.
The last time her father saw her was when he dropped her off at her part-time job at a takeaway restaurant in Mascot over the Australia Day long weekend.
He told her to stay safe as she got out of the car and the last words she told him were: 'I love you'.
Marli Cartmer-Congiu (pictured with former boyfriend Gully Thomas) died in hospital after a suspected overdose at a house party in Sydney in the early hours of Sunday morning
Marli was staying with a friend and went to a house party where tried GHB for the first time on Saturday of the Australia Day long weekend.
Her mother Kate screamed to wake up her husband when she found out her daughter had been taken to hospital at 6am on Sunday morning.
The parents discovered Marli had irreversible brain damage after oxygen had been cut off from her brain when they arrived at hospital.
Marli's heart stopped beating at 1.30pm on Sunday, January 28.
The tragedy came as debate raged over whether revellers should be able to test drugs at music festivals in the wake of five deaths in as many months.
Alex Ross-King died at the FOMO festival in Parramatta Park in Sydney on January 12 in what was the fifth fatality at an organised event in NSW since September.
The 19-year-old's grieving parents begged the state government to consider introducing pill testing.
Six revellers died from drug overdoses over the summer holiday season.
Alex Ross-King (pictured) died at the FOMO festival in Parramatta Park, Sydney, on January 12
PICTURED: SIX YOUNG REVELLERS WHO DIED FROM SUSPECTED PARTY DRUG OVERDOSES IN JUST FIVE MONTHS
MARLI CARTMER-CONGIU
Marli Cartmer-Congiu took liquid ecstasy for the first time at a house party in Sydney's inner-east on Saturday night, her friends said.
A short time later, she collapsed. Her friends called an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital, but she couldn't be saved.
ALEX ROSS-KING
Alex Ross-King, 19, died in hospital on January 12 after attending the FOMO festival at Parramatta Park.
The Central Coast teenager's family have pleaded with the NSW government to introduce pill testing reigniting the debate over its effectiveness.
JOSHUA TAM
Joshua Tam, 22, died in hospital on December 29 after attending the Lost Paradise music festival near Gosford.
His family have helped set up a clothing label in the young rugby league player's memory with proceeds going towards drug education for young Australians.
CALLUM BROSNAN
Callum Brosnan, 19, died after attending the dance music festival Knockout Games of Destiny on December 9.
He was found at a train station near the festival at Sydney Olympic Park but later died in hospital.
JOSEPH PHAM
Callum Brosnan (pictured left) and Joseph Pham (pictured right) both died after suspected drug overdoses at festivals late last year
Joseph Pham, 23, from western Sydney died in hospital from a suspected drug overdose on September 15 after the Defqon.1 festival.
Weeks before his death he shared a Facebook post from a group called 'Sniff Off' who advocate for no sniffer dogs, pill testing and drug legalisation.
DIANA NGUYEN
Diana Nguyen, a 21-year-old from Melbourne, also died after Defqon.1 on September 15 from a suspected drug overdose.
Ms Nguyen was engaged after her finance had proposed in Hawaii during her 21st birthday in April.
A coronial inquest has been launched to investigate the five deaths which occurred at music festivals.
Two more deaths may be examined at the inquest.
