A 23-year-old mother tragically passed away while participating in a drinking challenge at a nightclub during her birthday celebration. María José Ardila, a young mother of a 10-month-old baby, was out with friends on the eve of her 24th birthday. The group engaged in a series of six drinking challenges, including consuming various alcoholic drinks in a short amount of time. The final challenge involved drinking multiple shots through a straw.

María, a resident of Cali, Colombia, was at a local nightclub called Sagsa when the incident occurred. The competition offered a prize for the winner, which had increased in value throughout the night. Despite reaching the final challenge, María struggled to complete it and soon collapsed unconscious in front of her companions and other club patrons.

Witnesses reported that María experienced convulsions and struggled to breathe. Her friends attempted to secure transportation to a hospital, but no vehicles stopped to assist. María was later taken to a nearby medical facility, where medical staff made multiple resuscitation attempts. Despite their efforts, María was declared brain dead after spending three days in the ICU.

Authorities in Cali expressed concern over the incident and announced plans to inspect alcohol-serving establishments to ensure the safety of patrons. The nightclub where the tragedy occurred extended condolences to María’s family and pledged cooperation with the investigation. The investigation into María’s untimely death is currently ongoing.