Tragic death of young athlete during MMA training raises concerns over energy drink safety_l
“On Sunday, he went to MMA. He was doing a sparring session. During round seven or eight, he just collapsed,” the father of the MMA trainee said.
The fighter ended up suffering a fatal heart attack (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
An 18-year-old died after collapsing while trying Mixed Martial Arts, suffering a heart attack linked to energy drink consumption.
Zach Doran died after MMA training, even though he was a “super healthy” athlete and had no known heart issues.
He regularly consumed energy drinks and pre-workout supplements before exercise, which his girlfriend, Libby Gilmore, warns was a factor in his death.
Jason Doran, Zach’s father, recalls the tragic day: “He literally fought to his death.”
“On Sunday, he went to MMA. He was doing a sparring session. During round seven or eight, he just collapsed.”
“They had thought that he had taken a kick to the chest or blow to the head that might’ve caused it. But someone was recording his bouts. It was none of that. You could tell he was just getting tired and just folded over.”
The family is left heartbroken after the death of their son (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
During sparring, Zach suddenly collapsed, which was initially suspected of a blow-related injury; video footage showed he simply tired and folded over.
Libby claimed Zach “always had an energy drink” before going to the gym or an MMA session and “pre-workout,” both of which contain high levels of caffeine.
Zach spent 10 days on life support before his parents made the difficult decision to let him go.
Jason remembers, “It was terrible. We knew it was time.”
The exact cause of Zach’s death remains unknown. Jason awaits the medical examiner’s report, reluctant to speculate without facts.
“We’re still waiting for the medical examiner report to get back. We don’t know the exact cause. We don’t know if he had a heart condition. If he did it was unknown,” he said.
A teen tragically ‘fought to his death’ when he had a heart attack (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
Oklahoma law doesn’t require private gyms to have defibrillators, which might have saved Zach.
Jason campaigns for “Zach’s Law,” mandating defibrillators in all gyms.
He’s donated devices to 15 facilities, sharing Zach’s story and hoping to raise awareness of the need for defibrillators at all gyms in case someone suffers a heart reaction.
“This law is to protect not only athletes but also spectators. If you can help save a life, why wouldn’t you want to,” Jason said.
“We don’t ever want anyone to feel the hurt, the pain, the ups and downs that we felt during 10 days in the hospital and the aftermath. If it just helps save one life, then it’s worth it,” he added.
Libby discovered Zach combined energy drinks with pre-workout supplements, and she urges caution, citing research on their dangers.
The incident sparks broader discussions on supplement safety and gym emergency preparedness.
