Loose Women's Brenda Edwards confirms son Jamal's death caused by drug use

Brenda Edwards has spoken out after it was revealed the death of her son Jamal Edwards was caused by drugs.

The Loose Women star's music entrepreneur son died in February at the age of 31 and an inquest into his death has confirmed he suffered cardiac arrhythmia caused by having taken recreational drugs.

Edwards, 53, said in a statement on social media that the revelation had left her in a "state of shock" but she wanted to speak out to "help drive more conversation about the unpredictability of recreational drugs and the impact they can have."

Read more: Brenda Edwards returns to Loose Women and dedicates show to son Jamal

She said: "I have sadly learned that the cause of Jamal's devastating passing was due to cardiac arrhythmia caused by having taken recreational drugs and I wanted to address this myself to everyone who loved, admired and respected my son.

"Since finding out the news I've been in a state of shock, and I'm still trying to process it, but it's so important to me that I do address it as no mother or any loved one should have to go through what Jamal's sister, Tanisha, and I have been through since he passed."

The singer and actor went on: "Jamal had the world at his fingertips - a zest for life and he was unwittingly taken away far too soon. Yet we have to come to terms with what has happened, and Jamal is proof that this can happen to anyone.

"These types of substances are extremely unpredictable, and we can only hope that this will encourage others to think wisely when faced in similar situations in the future. His passing has shown that any one bad decision on any one occasion can lead to devastating consequences.

"It's so important that we help drive more conversation about the unpredictability of recreational drugs and the impact they can have. How it takes just one bad decision to destroy lives. I would do anything to have my son back but that is not possible so if I can help save one life, then we will have achieved something."

Edwards added: "Jamal and I had one of the strongest mother/son relationships that you could imagine. We were best friends, and out of his many, many, wonderful qualities the one that made me most proud was his mission to help others - he was the most selfless person I knew...

"I'm so incredibly proud of everything he achieved over the course of his 31 years; I'm so proud to call him my son."

Following his death Edwards - who is also mother to 22-year-old daughter Tanisha - has launched a trust to honour her son, called the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust.

Jamal was a teenager when he founded new music platform SB.TV - which is credited with helping to launch the careers of Dave, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J among others - and was awarded an MBE in 2014 for his services to music.

Read more: Brenda Edwards opens up on losing son Jamal Edwards

With an estimated fortune of £8 million in 2014, he went on to launch youth centre project Jamal Edwards Delve in 2019 in a bid to give back to the community.

Watch: Brenda Edwards remembers music entrepreneur son Jamal