Dad calls for cult energy drink to be pulled from shelves after son ‘nearly dies’
A dad has called for Prime Energy to be pulled from shelves after his eight-year-old son “nearly died” from drinking a can.
A dad has called for Prime Energy to be pulled from shelves after his eight-year-old boy “nearly died” from drinking a can.
As reported by The Sun, Luan Tusha said his family called emergency services when his son Fabian appeared to be having a fit and could not control his breathing.
The family did not realise the drink is for those aged over 16 due to the amount of caffeine it contains – 140mg, almost double the 80mg in a 250ml can of Red Bull.
Experts warn high levels of caffeine can raise heart rates and blood pressure, effects kids are more susceptible to.
The can of Blue Raspberry Prime Energy appears almost identical to a bottle of the brand’s zero-caffeine Prime Hydration drink.
Mr Tusha, 40, of Edmonton, North London, said Fabian started feeling unwell as soon as he tried the drink at home.
“His heart rate got up to 145bpm – you could see it thumping through his T-shirt,” Mr Tusha said.
“He couldn’t breathe. He started to pull his hair and his cheeks. My wife got a cool towel and put it on his forehead to try to calm him down.”
Paramedics found the boy’s blood pressure was extremely high, and stayed with him for 90 minutes until his vital signs stabilised.
Mr Tusha and his wife, Libua, then watched him through the night.
The drink, launched by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI, triggered fights among queuing fans when it went on sale in UK supermarkets in February. It was resold by consumers online for as much as £20 ($39) a can.
A message on the back warns Prime Energy is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or people sensitive to caffeine.
Most UK supermarkets have banned the sale of energy drinks like Prime, as well as Red Bull and Monster, to customers under 16.
One New York grocery store chain even pulled Prime Energy from shelves completely.
Now, Fabian’s parents want the same done across the UK.
“It almost killed Fabian. We need to make sure that kids stop drinking this,” Mr Tusha said.
“Children are at more risk due to lower body weight and different metabolisms,” Aston University’s Dr Duane Mellor explained.
Prime declined to comment on the incident.
A spokesperson for Asda, where the Tusha family purchased the beverage, said: “We ask customers to please be responsible when purchasing these products.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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