A 13-year-old girl was found lying in a street with a head injury, vomiting and unable to communicate, when found by police.

The girl and her family have allowed police in Portadown, who found and came to her aid, to share details of the incident to warn other young people of the dangers of alcohol.

The girl had met up with friends and travelled into town where she had taken alcohol.

Just a few hours later, officers from Portadown Neighbourhood Policing Team found the girl and took her straight to hospital, where she was admitted for the night.

Police colleagues went to collect the teenager’s mother and bring her to the hospital.

The girl was admitted the next day and admitted she still felt very unwell.

The mother of the girl also related her experience for police to share.

She explained: “I was at home on Saturday afternoon when I got a phone call from a Police Officer telling me that my daughter was being taken to hospital.

“When I arrived I saw her being taken into the Resuscitation Unit. She looked grey and was totally unresponsive so when I saw her I was extremely shocked and just burst into tears.

“I had to wait in the corridor until the doctors assessed her. She was kept in overnight, put onto a drip and was taken for a CT scan and X-rays which thankfully were all clear.

“This whole experience was terrifying and a week later I am still very shaken by it all. My daughter had gone out for a Saturday afternoon into town with her friends as she normally does. I thought I could trust my daughter.

“I am very grateful that she was found and got the medical help she desperately needed and hopefully this message will make other parents aware of the dangers of alcohol and prevent it happening to someone else’s child.”