A Florida fitness enthusiast met her untimely death despite leading a healthy life. Late Katie Donnell was only 28 when she passed, and her mother is opening up about what led to the devastating incident, issuing a strong warning to those who have ears.
Donnell’s mom, Lori Brannon, raised alarm about the consumption of energy drinks, saying it killed her “super healthy” daughter. According to the heartbroken mother, the trainer consumed at least three cans of energy drinks daily, going through about four packs every two to three days. Alongside the drinks, Donnell took coffee and pre-workout caffeine supplements.
Speaking with the Daily Mail, Mrs. Brannon explained what fueled her daughter’s use of the stimulating beverage. “She thought it would help her workout and give more energy,” Brannon recalled. “She was working out, working full-time, and going to school, burning it at both ends. I think she got used to the buzz.”
The bereaved woman pointed out that she was unaware that her 28-year-old daughter took the beverages till after her death. Barranon was told by one of her daughter’s friends that she hardly saw Donnell “without an energy drink in her hands.” When Brannon cleaned out her daughter’s car, she got the confirmation. It was full of cans — at least three or four.
Aside from her daughter’s large consumption of caffeine, the mom highlighted that she lived a healthy life. “She was a workout queen; she ate clean, she ate organic food. She was the epitome of health.”
Unfortunately, Donnell collapsed on a night out with her friends, leading to her demise. Initially, her friends thought it was a stroke, but it turned out to be a heart attack. Attempts by the ambulance team to resuscitate Donnell failed as she was deprived of oxygen for too long, and it caused brain damage.
The fitness enthusiast spent 10 days in a medically induced coma. Sadly, the family made the “horrible” decision to pull the plug on the life support machine. Even though the doctors mentioned that there were cases of heart attacks from the use of energy drinks, they, however, did not associate Donnell’s death with excess energy drink intake.
Internet folks reacted to the revelation about Donnell’s lifestyle.
“This unhealthy quest for being super fit is unnatural! Tragic,” a comment read.
“That’s awful. Who would ever think a trim 20-something would die from a heart attack,” this user added.
Katie Donnell’s death is reminiscent of that of an Ohio fitness coach, Jodi Vance, who died earlier this month. As we reported, the bodybuilder died from a heart attack related to the use of harmful substances. Vance’s trainer later confirmed that she had been taking diuretics to enhance her body without his consent and knowledge.
These unfortunate cases are just reminders that we should be mindful of what we put in our bodies. May the deceased rest in peace.
