A young mother, aged 23, passed away after participating in a drinking contest while celebrating her birthday at a nightclub.
María José Ardila, a mother to a 10-month-old baby, was out with friends just days before turning 24. They dined together before heading to a nightclub on October 25, where they engaged in a series of challenging drinking activities. These challenges included consuming a double shot of liquor in five seconds, downing shots in rapid succession, drinking a beer continuously, and more. The group’s final challenge involved consuming a strong spirit called aguardiente within a specific time frame.
María, hailing from Cali, Colombia, was at a local nightclub known as Sagsa when the tragic incident occurred. A cash prize was offered to the winner of the challenge, which the victim’s family mentioned had increased during the event.
During the final challenge in the early hours of the morning, María managed to consume only three out of eight shots. Subsequently, she collapsed and lost consciousness after struggling to finish the drinks.
Following her collapse, María experienced convulsions, and her friends attempted to get her to a hospital. Unfortunately, they faced challenges finding transportation, and María went approximately 17 minutes without breathing. Her father revealed that she developed aspiration pneumonia, leading to a collapsed lung.
María was rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals made multiple resuscitation attempts as she slipped in and out of consciousness. Despite the efforts, her family eventually decided to disconnect life support due to her brain death after spending three days in the ICU.
Authorities from the Cali Health Secretariat expressed their concerns over the incident, emphasizing the need for inspections in commercial establishments and off-licenses to ensure the safety of alcohol sales and consumption in the city.
The nightclub, Sagsa Bar, expressed deep regret over the events of October 25 and extended condolences to María’s family. They pledged full support and cooperation during this challenging period.
An investigation into María’s untimely death is currently underway.
