Her name was Maria José Ardila. At 23, this young Colombian had her whole life ahead of her: a ten-month-old baby, a husband living in the United States, and an imminent departure plan to join him. On October 25, 2025, in Cali, her hometown in Colombia, she celebrated the end of her studies surrounded by her friends. The group has dinner then joins a club where an alcohol “challenge” takes place.
An evening with friends, which turns into a nightmare
The principle? Drink quickly, a lot, and without breaks. Quick drinks, shots in series, large quantities of alcohol swallowed in a few seconds… Maria takes on the challenges one after the other, until the sixth test.
There she collapses. Her friends say she began convulsing, unable to breathe. They tried to transport her to the hospital, but no taxi would accept the ride.
Maria reportedly remained “for 17 minutes without being able to breathe”, before finally being evacuated by an acquaintance.
“I saw my daughter die three times” reports his father
At the hospital, the doctors try everything. “I saw my daughter die three times“, confides his father Andrés, upset.
“They revived her, intubated her, and that’s when we started praying for her.”.
For three days, Maria remains in a coma, kept alive by the machines. In a state of brain death, she died on October 28.
Local authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances of this tragedy and strengthened controls on establishments selling alcohol in Cali. The nightclub involved released a statement expressing its “solidarity”, “support” and “condolences” to the family.
Aspiration pneumonia, the decryption of Dr Gérald Kierzek
According to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, this tragedy illustrates the dramatic consequences of acute alcohol intoxication.
“Inhalation of vomit in an alcoholic person, especially after very rapid or high doses, can lead to aspiration pneumonia, a serious complication where the airways become blocked and infected by gastric contents.he explains.
The symptoms are violent:
- Respiratory distress;
- A cough with bloody sputum;
- A high fever;
- Chest pain;
- Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin);
- And an altered state of consciousness due to hypoxia.
“Treatment includes antibiotics, oxygen therapy and sometimes intensive care.” specifies the doctor.
A real life-threatening emergency
“This type of pathology requires rapid treatment by emergency services (firefighters, SAMU), who ensure the stabilization of vital functions, in particular ventilation, often by intubation and mechanical ventilation. The treatment aims above all to prevent alcoholic coma, respiratory arrest and infectious worsening. This type of accident is fatal if the person is not treated quickly and efficiently. insists our expert.
Dr Kierzek also points out that prevention is crucial.
“The alcoholic person must be closely monitored, especially in the event of rapid or excessive consumption. Never leave them alone, and place them in the side safety position (PLS) if they are drowsy or unconscious to prevent vomit from being sucked into the respiratory tract.”
If convulsions occur or if the person is difficult to wake up, emergency help should be called immediately for rapid medical attention.
“And while waiting, it is essential not to give the person anything to drink or eat if they are unconscious, and to guarantee the freedom of the airways.” concludes our expert.