The father of a young man who died from liver failure has spoken of his desperate attempts to save his son from alcohol addiction. Gareth Anderson passed away on 4 June, nearly three years after first being admitted to hospital with liver problems following a binge-drinking session with friends in September 2009.
Mr Anderson, from Newtownards, County Down, was initially treated at Dundonald Hospital before being transferred to London. He later returned to Northern Ireland and showed signs of recovery. His father Brian opened a pet shop in the town to give Gareth a focus after his discharge, recalling how his son had loved working in a pet shop as a teenager. 'If Gareth got his wages on a Friday, he would spend them buying flowers for his mother and grandmother,' said Brian.
Despite the shop providing a chance to work together, Gareth resumed drinking in October 2010 and began getting into trouble. He underwent a five-week detox programme at Downpatrick Hospital, but it failed to stop his alcohol consumption. His father believes a fallout with a friend pushed him over the edge, leading him to buy several bottles of vodka, which his liver could not handle. He died of liver failure at the Ulster Hospital.
Brian Anderson expressed his grief and urged awareness about the dangers of teenage drinking, noting that young people today drink far more than in his generation. He said he was comforted by the support from the local community, who visited the shop to pay their respects.
