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‘Workout queen’, 28, who was ‘the epitome of health’ dies suddenly after ‘popular drink triggered heart attack’
‘Workout queen’, 28, who was ‘the epitome of health’ dies suddenly after ‘popular drink triggered heart attack’
Published on March 24, 2025 at 09:57 AM
The dangers of energy drinks
KATIE Donnell was just 28 when she tragically passed away from a heart attack, which her mum believes was triggered by energy drinks.
“I was shocked,” 63-year-old Lori Barranon fromFlorida, US, said. “I knew I hated [energy drinks] but I didn't know they could be deadly.”
Fitness-mad Katie Donnell drank up to three energy drinks dailyThe ‘workout queen' tragically died from a heart attack in August 2021Her mum Lori Barranon believes was caused by gulping excessive energy drinks
Katie, a teacher who was described as the “epitome of health” by her mum, had no known underlying heart conditions before the fatal incident.
“She was a workout queen, she ate real clean and only ate organic food,” Lori, asales representative said.
But she did suffer from “horrible anxiety and went to several doctors,” she added.
“I don't think it was real anxiety, I think it was her abuse of caffeine and energy drinks.”
“One of her friends said she'd hardly see Katie without an energy drink in her hands,” she explained.
“When I cleaned out her car after she passed it was full of cans, at least three or four in there.”
She also drank “a lot of” coffee regularly, the mum said.
Energy drink consumption can cause cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias and even – like in Katie's case – heart attacks if drunk excessively, according to Healthline.
While the recommended daily dose of caffeine is 100 milligrams for adolescents and 400mg for adults, some energy drinks contain more than 500mg, which can cause caffeine toxicity.
Woman left fighting for her life in organ failure after 4 cardiac arrests moments after sipping drink loved by millions
In 2021, Katie was out with her friends when her eyes rolled back into her head.
“They thought she had a stroke but they realised she was having a heart attack,” Lori said.
“The ambulance got there and couldn't intubate her. She was without oxygen for too long and it caused brain damage,” she explained.
If you don't keep your kids away from this stuff you may be in my situation where your life is ruined
Lori BarranonKatie's mum
Doctors continued to work on her for three hours.
“The neurosurgeon came in and thought she was on drugs or was ‘roofied' [spiked] or something,” Lori said.
“Whenever she tried to wake up she was having seizures,” Lori recalled.
After an anxious bedside vigil, Lori had to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support machine on August 9, 2021.
The 28-year-old was out with her friends when she had the deadly heart attackHeartbroken Lori is now urging others to stay away from ‘deadly' energy drinks
“At 28, you just don't see people dropping dead of a heart attack,” she said.
Doctors told Lori that they often see this happen with people who drink excessive amounts of pre-workout or energy drinks, but they wouldn’t officially attribute the cause of death to that.
“I know for a fact that was what was wrong with her,” she added.
Stay away
Heartbroken Lori is now urging others to stay away from “deadly” energy drinks and pre-workout and calls for a ban.
She said: “If you don't keep your kids away from this stuff you may be in my situation where your life is ruined.
“It's so harmful and deadly, my whole family is affected by this.”
She added: “I beg people to counsel your kids and watch what they're doing, I thought I was.
“I tell everybody I see with energy drinks that this is what it can do in the blink of an eye.
“I think energy drinks should be banned.”
Energy drink timeline
Data from gift site Personalise reveals exactly what happens to the body, hour-by-hour, after you finish a can, and even 12 days later.
It was created using information from sources including the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and energy drink manufacturer Red Bull.
It may make you re-think your habit, and re-assess whether the highs and lows of energy are worth it for a quick hit.
First 10 minutes
That’s the time the caffeine begins to enter the bloodstream, causing your heart rate and blood pressure to rise.
Previous research has looked at the impact of energy drinks on the blood pressure and hearts of young people.
One small study found that people who drank 32 ounces (1L) of energy drinks in an hour had abnormal electrical activity in their hearts and higher blood pressure four hours later.
15-45 minutes
The time caffeine level peaks, making you feel alert and improving concentration.
The caffeine concetration in energy drinks ranges from 80mg (Red Bull) to 150mg (PRIME) per serving.
It is generally recommended to have no more than 400mg of caffeine per day.
30-50 minutes
By now, all of the caffeine has been absorbed and your liver will often react by absorbing more sugar.
One hour
This is when you are likely to get the “sugar crash”; – when your blood sugar and caffeine level drops – and you may feel tired.
Five-six hours
Roughly five to six hours after consumption your body will have reduced the caffeine content in your bloodstream by 50 per cent.
12 hours
Around 12 hours after finishing your energy drink, the caffeine will be out of most people's bloodstreams, but it does vary due to age and activity.
12-24 hours
If you have been drinking energy drinks regularly, between 12 and 24 hours is the time when you'll start to feel withdrawal symptoms.
You may suffer from headaches, irritability and constipation.
Seven-12 days
Studies have shown this is the time it takes the body to become tolerant of your daily caffeine dosage.
This means if you keep the level the same, you are unlikely to feel any effects at this point.
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