Bodybuilder mum-of-two's strict diet of protein shakes and egg whites blamed for contributing to her sudden death
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A bodybuilding mum-of-two's strict diet of protein shakes and egg whites has been blamed for contributing to her sudden death at just 25.
Trainee paramedic Meegan Hefford was on the special eating regime to get into shape for a bodybuilding tournament.
But she didn't realise she had a rare, undiagnosed condition that prevented her body from breaking down protein properly.
Meegan, who was a son aged five and a daughter aged seven, was discovered unconscious by an estate agent carrying a property inspection at her flat and rushed to hospital .
Doctors were baffled over why a young woman who seemed fit and healthy was losing so much brain activity.
(Image: meeganheff/Instagram)
(Image: meeganheff/Instagram)
Her condition - urea cycle disorder - leads to potentially fatal levels of ammonia in the bloodstream and excessive fluid on the brain.
Meegan, from Mandurah, Australia, was eventually pronounced brain dead and passed away.
Her death certificate says she died from an "intake of bodybuilding supplements" as well as the undiagnosed illness.
(Image: meeganheff/Instagram)
(Image: meeganheff/Instagram)
Now her heartbroken family want more to be done to restrict the sales of protein shakes.
Meegan was also regularly eating protein-rich foods, such as meat and egg whites, ahead of the bodybuilding competition next month.
Michelle White, Meegan's mum, said her daughter had stepped up her gym routine shortly before her death and was frequently exercising twice a day.
(Image: meeganheff/Instagram)
“I said to her ‘I think you’re doing too much at the gym, calm down, slow it down’,” her mum told perthnow.com .
“I couldn’t believe what the doctors were telling me, she was dying. I said ‘you have to give her more time’ because she didn’t look sick, she looked beautiful."
Meegan's children were taken to say goodbye to her and her organs were donated to transplant patients.
(Image: meeganheff/Instagram)
So far four lives have been saved as her heart, lung and kidneys were donated, but her liver could not be transplanted because of it was so badly damaged by her illness.
Meegan's protein supplement usage was only discovered after her death when her mum found half a dozen containers in her kitchen, which she believes were bought online and in shops.
Now Ms White is calling for tougher regulation of these products: “I know there are people other than Meegan who have ended up in hospital because they’ve overloaded on supplements. The sale of these products needs to to more regulated.”