Dad-of-three says he nearly died from brain haemorrhage after downing 25 energy drinks in six hours
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A dad of three today reveals how he ended up on the brink of death – through downing too many energy drinks.
Nick Mitchell suffered a brain haemorrhage after gulping 25 cans of Monster and Red Bull over the space of six hours while running a karaoke evening in a hot club.
He woke up later that night with a blinding headache so bad he called 999 and was rushed to hospital.
Doctors diagnosed a severe caffeine overdose and a CT scan revealed a brain bleed.
The frightened mechanic was rushed into surgery and warned 60% of victims had another haemorrhage within the next 12 hours – many fatal.
(Image: PA)
It was the beginning of weeks of hell in which survivor Nick, 56, went on to suffer a series of terrifying mini-strokes that left him numb and unable to speak because of lack of oxygen to his brain.
“I had three in the space of a week,” said Nick. “These drinks nearly killed me. I was so close to death and thought I might not make it through surgery.
“They should not be sold. They are as bad as drugs and should be banned.”
A single can of an energy drink can contain as much as 160mg of caffeine – more than a double espresso – and up to 14 teaspoons of sugar.
(Image: Matthew Pover)
Nick is still suffering fallout from his ordeal eight years ago. His strokes left him with word blindness – and he is speaking out to warn others addicted to the buzz from the seemingly innocent drinks whose sales continue to rise.
He said: “There’s a reason these drinks give you wings – but I nearly flew off the Earth and never came back.”
At the time, heavy duty plant mechanic Nick was running his own karaoke machine business in his spare time and working up to six late nights a week in clubs and pubs.
He said: “For about nine months I had been drinking about three or four cans an evening. I couldn’t have alcohol as I was working and driving, so I’d have Red Bull instead.
“I found they kept me going until I’d finished work. But as soon as I had one, I craved another. I didn’t realise at the time how addictive they were. But on the days I didn’t have them, I would go onto a downer, and would be grumpy.”
(Image: PA)
On the fateful night in June, 2010, divorced Nick – dad to Joshua, 22, Joanna, 27 and James, 30 – was rushing to get his equipment ready at a local rugby club. “It was the first hot night of the summer. Roasting, I drank two large cans of Monster on the way to work,” he said. “As soon as I arrived I started drinking Red Bull. Only later did the manager tell me I’d supped 23 75cl cans by midnight and a pal told me I was like a coiled spring. I was jumping around all over the place. He said he’d never seen me so hyper.”
Within five minutes of getting into bed that night, Nick woke up with severe pains in his head. He recalled: “It felt like someone had cracked my head open with a sledgehammer. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.
“I’d had with migraines in the past, but this didn’t compare. The pain was off the scale. I called an ambulance, but I was so worried I’d pass out I opened my windows in case I couldn’t get to the door when the paramedics arrived.”
Nick, of Wakefield, West Yorks, was rushed to Dewsbury and District Hospital where doctors confirmed he’d had a brain bleed. He said: “I was absolutely terrified. I had no idea if I would still be alive the following day.
“By then my three children had arrived at the high dependency unit. I was so frightened they were about to watch their dad die before their very eyes.” Nick was taken to theatre to repair the burst blood vessel, but surgeons couldn’t locate it so he had to stay in a further five days. When discharged he was warned he would probably suffer a bout of transient ischemic attacks – TIAs or mini-strokes. “I suffered three in the space of a week,” said Nick. “They were so frightening. My whole body went numb. I couldn’t move or speak for up to half an hour at a time.
(Image: Huddersfield Examiner)
“It took me months to fully recover. The severe headaches seemed to take forever to stop. Even now, I get word blindness where I can’t get out what I’m trying to say. But I realise I’m one of the lucky ones. It could have been so much worse. I shudder to think teenagers can’t buy alcohol yet they can buy these drinks that are equally if not more dangerous. It’s ridiculous. They are so addictive. With hindsight it was foolish to drink that many, but I had no idea they were that dangerous. I’m just glad I’m still here to tell the tale. I’ve never had once since.”
A Red Bull spokesman said: “One 250ml can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine, about the same as a cup of home-brewed coffee. The European Food Safety Authority has stated that caffeine intake of up to 400mg per day (five 250 ml cans or five cups of coffee) does not raise safety concerns for the general healthy adult population.”
Monster Energy failed to comment.
Danger of caffeine overload
A consultant neurologist confirmed downing energy drinks one after the other can have dangerous consequences.
Dr Mohammed Dashti said: “Caffeine can cause a hyper activity episode in the brain. Too many of these in a short space of time can lead to a rapid surge of blood flow and the narrowing of vessels. This is a very dangerous combination and can cause the rupture of a blood vessel that can led to a bleed on the brain or a heart attack.”
Dr Dashti, of Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, added: “Each individual’s tolerance levels are different. But 25 cans of an energy drink in one evening is an excessive amount.”