Teen Samantha Jenkins Died From 'Too Much Chewing Gum'
A 19-year-old may have been killed by her 14-stick-a-day chewing gum habit, an inquest has heard. Samantha Jenkins, from Llanelli, was days away from celebrating her 20th birthday when she fell into a coma on 3 June 2011 and died three days later. When admitted to hospital, doctors found she had severe magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium deficiencies.
Dr Paul Griffiths, who said Jenkins' death was caused by cerebral hypoxia, said he found "four or five bright green lumps" in her stomach. "I had to smell them to see what they were and they smelled of mint," he said.
Acting senior coroner Colin Phillips said the sweeteners in chewing gum may have been the cause of the electrolyte depletion which brought on Jenkins' convulsions. Her death was originally thought to be caused by an overdose or some form of poisoning, although an inquest into her death found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in her system.
Jenkins' mother Maria Morgan said she found hundreds of used chewing gum wrappers in her room and the teen had been complaining of headaches for months.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/05/06/chewing-gum-death-llanelli-wales_n_7220182.html