A dream vacation nearly ended in tragedy when two Oklahoma State University students were allegedly poisoned after ordering water at a poolside bar in a Cancun resort.
Images shared by Zara Hull and her family capture Hull and Kaylie Pitze unconscious after drinking the contaminated water on 1 August.
Hull recounted her experience, stating she contacted her mother at 10 in the morning to express how wonderful the resort was. By 4:30 PM, her boyfriend Jake informed her mother that Hull was incoherent and unconscious.
Hull and her friends were on a four-day trip, which was abruptly shortened after Hull and Pitze consumed the tainted water.
Stephanie Snider, mother of Hull’s boyfriend Jake, posted on Facebook that Hull and Pitze were drugged at the resort. The drugged drinks caused both to pass out simultaneously.
“Our son, Jake, and his girlfriend are now back in the U.S. after the most horrific 48 hours of our lives,” Snider wrote. “Their fun vacation turned into our worst nightmare.”
Jake recounted the event, suspecting a resort employee was involved. The bartender served water, which showed a bubbling effect in Jake’s photos. Shortly after sipping the water, Hull and Pitze collapsed simultaneously.
Jake described taking Pitze back to their room in a wheelchair, while he carried Hull, who began vomiting and, as he thought, having a seizure.
“Zara experienced what the resort doctor called a ‘seizure’ and was taken to the hospital. The hospital demanded $10,000 upfront to start treatment. The money was sent. By the next morning, more money was requested for continued care,” Snider explained.
Pitze did not require hospitalisation but struggled the following day.
“Neither girl remembers anything after drinking the water. They both collapsed at the same time. They are left wondering why this happened to them,” Snider stated.
After nearly 27 hours and thousands of dollars, Hull’s family negotiated with the U.S. Embassy to have her flown to Dallas for further medical treatment.
On Thursday, Snider updated that Hull was regaining her appetite and could drink fluids independently.
Snider hopes this incident serves as a warning to others travelling to similar resorts.
“They followed our advice to stay within the resort. This happened within the resort, which was supposed to be safe,” Snider emphasised.
“The resort was not safe,” Hull added. “They say the resort is the safest place; it’s not true.”
The names of the resort and hospital remain undisclosed due to legal and privacy concerns.