Tributes for teen who died after drinking online cocktail
TRIBUTES are flowing for a teenage girl who has died after drinking a toxic mix of alcohol from an online recipe that left her with a blood-alcohol level of 0.4 — which is more than eight times the adult driving limit.
NSW
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SHE was a teenage girl with the world at her feet — she was a talented horserider known in the eventing community and rode her horses at her “idyllic” rural home with a family who adored her.
But 15-year-old Paris Kamper died yesterday after taking a lethal alcohol cocktail she found on the internet, prompting police and her devastated family to declare “enough is enough” when it comes to dangerous underage drinking.
Police were called to the Kamper family’s sprawling Kenthurst home just before 9.30pm on Friday night after she was found unconscious. Energy drinks and lollies were found nearby.
She had been drinking alone and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.4 — eight times the legal limit for adults to drive.
Paris was rushed to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead where her family held a bedside vigil, but she died just before midday on Monday.
“This child was not a user of alcohol she wasn’t known to have a drinking issue,” Superintendent Rob Critchlow said.
Instead, he believes she saw a video on Instagram for a cocktail recipe and “put that information to the test”.
“Point four is eight times the legal limit, the legal limit of 0.05 is when a grown adult is starting to show the effects of alcohol consumption,” Supt Critchlow said.
“The data says at point-three-seven and up you are at very real risk of death. This was a 15-year-old girl, she was a small person.”
Supt Critchlow said the family wanted to warn others about toxic alcohol recipes available online.
“Morally, we ask anyone whose involved in the production of videos online that portray the excess consumption of alcohol and the mixture of alcohol and other substances as a fun or desire able thing, to stop,” he said.
He added police would consider whether charges were relevant but “the whole issue of broadcast via the internet is a difficult one legally”.
He said her family were stunned at the death of their active, popular daughter who loved sport and animals.
“She was a lovely young girl, quite a character, quite a free-spirited young girl. She had a part-time job locally, was well respected and well liked,” he said.
“She was deeply engaged in her animals, she had chickens and horses and other livestock on her semi-rural property which by all accounts is a pretty idyllic lifestyle.
“For this to happen in an unexpected and tragic and catastrophic manner is really damaging for all of us.
“Enough is enough, dangerous alcohol has to stop.”
Paris’ parents were too distraught to speak about their daughter but tributes flowed from friends online, many mentioning her love and success as an event horse rider.
Neighbour Michelle Gil said that Paris was her daughter’s best friend.
“Pazzy you are forever with us and we will never forget you,” she said. “Thanks for being the best friend a girl could ever hope for to our daughter!”
Family friend Sonia Cres said that she was grieving for Paris’ mother Sandra.
“Our hearts are breaking in two with the loss of your daughter,” she said.
Sydney Eventing official Georgia Hawkins posted a touching tribute to the young horse rider on Facebook extending her “heartfelt condolences” to the Kamper family, who have been a part of the eventing community for many years.
“The Sydney Eventing committee is devastated to have learned of the sudden death of talented young rider Paris Kamper,” Ms Hawkins wrote.
“Our thoughts are with those grieving this heartbreaking loss. May you rest in peace Paris.”
Paris went to Pacific Hills Christian School — like her older sister Olivia — but it is understood she finished her schooling there in September last year.
Pacific Hills Christian School officials declined to comment on the incident or why the teenager’s attendance at the institution had come to an end prematurely.
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine spokesman Professor Gordian Fulde said the cocktail was deadly because of the sheer amount of alcohol.
“If you mix any alcohol with any other substance, … legal or illegal it really multiplies the chances of something going badly wrong,” Prof Fulde said.
“Energy drinks have their own yummy flavour … they hide the alcohol they also have stimulants like caffeine and guarana which may mislead the body thinking you’re not in trouble.
“The pivotal thing here is if you chug a bottle of vodka, you have a reasonable chance of dying from it.
“You get sleepy and go unconscious … when you’re unconscious your natural reflexes like stopping vomit going into your lunges are taken away … You could also choke on your own tongue and die.
“It is simple chemistry if you take a high amount of alcohol in a short period of time, the effect and damage on the brain is almost immediate.
“That is especially in a young brain and especially in a female who metabolise alcohol less efficiently than males.”
AUSSIES IN THE DARK OVER EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
* Additional reporting Christopher Harris and Henry Lynch