Heartbroken family's warning after death of aspiring chef

Reece Kingdon had a passion for motorbikes
-Credit: (Image: Family handout)


The heartbroken family of an aspiring chef who tragically died after taking ecstasy have warned others about the dangers of experimenting with drugs. Reece Kingdon, aged just 23 years old, died on the way to hospital after unknowingly taking a fatal quantity of ecstasy, also known as MDMA, an inquest heard.

He had been due to start a chef course at Exeter College after working his way up from washing up duties at The Boathouse in Dawlish Warren to cooking food. The inquest at Exeter Coroner’s Court today, September 23, heard Reece lived with his mum Mary-Anne and sister Shannon in Dawlish.

In a statement, his mum told how the former Dawlish Community College pupil enjoyed a passion for playing the guitar and riding motorbikes which he would repair and then sell for a profit. She recalled he struggled as a teenager to come to terms with his dad dying from cancer.

By the age of 15 or 16, Reece was said to have started smoking cannabis but Mary-Anne said she was not aware of him later taking any other drugs. In the three months before his death, she said he had been drinking more because a job at The Welcome had ended and he was hoping to return back to The Boathouse.

She told how she became concerned for his welfare on the morning of July 25, 2023, when she noticed he was acting strangely and was sweating. Reece denied having taken any drugs and went back to bed.

When his mum later checked on him in bed he appeared to be having a fit. Shortly after paramedics arrived he stopped breathing and was resuscitated but went into cardiac arrest again on his way to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Reece Kingdon with his mum and sister
Reece Kingdon with his mum and sister -Credit:Family handout

A friend who had been gaming with Reece at his house the night before he died told in a statement how Reece had smoked some cannabis and then took out a bag of around four 'green Heineken' pills and offered to give him one but he declined.

The friend said: "He said it was MDMA and had been given it by a mate so he was sure it was okay."

He told how he didn't see Reece take one and that he had instead seen him drinking vodka and when he left at around 1am Reece had seemed 'fine'.

Paying tribute to Reece, he said: "Reece had big dreams. He was a talented chef and wanted one day to have his own food truck. He was obsessed with the idea of making burgers for people and putting their favourite toppings on it."

He added: "I just wish I had done more to stop him taking the pills. Reece is sadly not the first friend I have lost to a drugs death and I'm a huge advocate for saying no to drugs."

In a statement, Reece's childhood sweetheart - who he had been with for around eight years - told in a statement how she had never seen him take ecstasy before but at 2.20am, after his friend had gone, he said he had taken one ecstasy pill and asked her to come over.

Reece Kingdon with one of his beloved cats
Reece Kingdon with one of his beloved cats -Credit:Family handout

She recalled arriving at 3am and described him as having been 'cheerful and extra bubbly'. The couple then took half a pill each and then another half a pill.

She told how she had slept on a makeshift bed on the floor while Reece was on his bed and that she had not been aware he was unwell until after his mum had checked on him.

The medical cause of his death was the toxic effects of MDMA. Although traces of cannabis and cocaine were detected, it was confirmed the substances would not have contributed towards his death.

Recording a conclusion of drug-related death, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Devon, said: "Reece had taken a very large dose of MDMA that was sufficient to cause fatal toxicity."

She continued: "Reece took the drugs intentionally not realising the danger of them and the effect they would have."

Paying tribute to Reece after the inquest, his sister Shannon said: "He was the best big brother ever. He always looked out for me. His biking exploits have inspired me to get his Yamaha Aerox back on the road."

His mum Mary-Anne, described him as 'very loveable and always polite, and said: "He is loved dearly and is missed by his family and friends. His number one love was his cats, Stitch and Pancake. They were his first priority.

"He had a promising career as a chef and was about to start a chef course at Exeter College. Reece's death was an unfortunate accident and we hope that it will make others aware of the consequences of taking drugs."