A MIXED martial arts fighter died days after collapsing during a training session. Zach Doran was sparring at his local gym when his heart suddenly stopped. The 18-year-old spent 10 days in a coma before his parents Jason and Tami made the "tough" decision to turn his life support machine off.
"He literally fought to his death," his dad, a teacher and American football coach, said. "He was doing a sparring session and during round seven or eight, he just collapsed. "They had thought that he had taken a kick to the chest or a blow to the head, but someone was recording his bouts and it was none of that.
READ MORE ON HEALTH "You could tell he was getting tired and just folded over." The "super healthy" teenager, who had been an MMA fighter for two and a half years and was captain of his Varsity American football team, had no underlying health conditions. But his girlfriend Libby Gilmore, 18, believes energy drinks contributed to Zack's "shock" passing.
The sportsman reportedly "always had one" before going to the gym or an MMA session, as well as a "pre-workout" - a supplement designed to enhance energy. Most read in Health Both contain high levels of caffeine . Jason, from Mustang, Oklahoma , US, said these drinks "didn't help" his son, but they still "don't have an exact answer" as to whether they caused his death.
Energy drinks can cause cardiovascular issues , including high blood pressure , an irregular and increased heartbeat , and even heart attacks if consumed in excess.