2021 Case of Man Who Died After Drinking 1.5 Litres of Coca-Cola Resurfaces

A case from 2021 involving a 22-year-old Chinese man who suffered a rare medical emergency after consuming 1.5 litres of Coca-Cola has resurfaced online. The man drank the soft drink in about 10 minutes during hot weather and later developed severe abdominal pain and swelling. He was taken to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, where doctors found his heart rate elevated, blood pressure low, and rapid breathing. A CT scan revealed an unusual buildup of gas in his intestines, a condition known as pneumatosis intestinalis, along with gas in the portal vein.

The medical team attempted to treat the condition but the patient’s condition worsened. Blood tests showed severe liver damage approximately 12 hours after admission, and he died around 18 hours after being admitted to the hospital.

Experts questioned whether the rapid consumption of Coca-Cola alone could explain such a severe outcome. Other possible causes, including underlying bacterial infections, were discussed. The medical evidence does not conclusively link the soft drink to the man’s death, emphasizing that this was a highly unusual case.

Carbonated beverages can cause discomfort due to the release of carbon dioxide in the digestive system, leading to burping, fullness, and bloating. However, the extreme complications reported in this case are exceptionally rare. The resurfacing of the story highlights how older medical reports can go viral again when shared without their original date.