Caffeine Kills A Teenager

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

South Carolina authorities revealed Monday that it has finally solved the mystery surrounding the sudden death last month of a teenager shortly after he collapsed in class.

Co- Davis Cripe in high school Spring Hill in the town of Chapin on April 26 were stunned when the 16 year old boy suddenly fell unconscious to the ground.

The young man seemed healthy and had no evidence of having used drugs, so no one explained his death.

After studying the case, coroner Gary Watts concluded that Cripe had suffered from heart failure due to excessive caffeine consumption.

According to the Associated Press, Watts noted that the deceased had no pre-existing heart conditions that could have caused him to die in a classroom.

What happened is that in a period of only two hours, Cripe had drunk a McDonald's latte coffee, a bottle of Mountain Dew soda and an energy drink. So the official cause of death is "a caffeine-induced heart incident that caused a probable arrhythmia," Watts said.

This boy's tragic death prompted state health authorities to issue a warning this week about caffeine use.

"While adults should be aware of the caffeine they consume, it is important for parents to be aware of the risks it poses to children and teens," said director of the South Carolina Palmetto Toxicology Center, Jill Michels. In turn, she urged parents to talk to their children about the risks of energy drinks and excessive caffeine consumption.

The federal Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to four to five cups of coffee. The average cup of coffee contains 100 to 150 mg of caffeine, while energy drinks can contain up to 300 mg.