Girl loses stomach after drinking liquid nitrogen cocktail

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Scientists have warned of the dangers of cocktails prepared with liquid nitrogen after Gaby Scanlon, 18, had her stomach removed in an operation believed to have saved her life.

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Scientists have warned of the dangers of using liquid nitrogen for culinary purposes after a teenage girl who had drunk a cocktail containing the substance underwent emergency surgery.

Gaby Scanlon is believed to have suffered an adverse reaction after drinking a correctly prepared Jagermeister drink made with liquid nitrogen to produce a steaming “cauldron effect.”

The sixth form pupil was celebrating her 18th birthday with friends in Lancaster city centre when she had the drink at Oscars wine bar on Thursday night.

Police said she had her stomach removed afterwards in an urgent operation thought to have saved her life.

The bar is not thought to have made an error in preparing the drink.

But professor Peter Barham, of the University of Bristol's School of Physics, stressed the importance of ensuring proper safety measures were in place when liquid nitrogen was being used in food and drink preparation.

The temperature of the liquid is around -196C and if it is not used properly it can cause frostbite or cryogenic burns, he warned.

"As with any very hot or very cold liquid proper safety measures must be taken,” he said. “Just as no-one would drink boiling water or oil or pour it over themselves, so no-one should ingest liquid nitrogen.

"Liquid nitrogen can be used safely in the preparation of foods. However, since it is not safe to ingest liquid nitrogen due care must be taken to ensure that the liquid has all evaporated before serving any food or drink that was prepared with liquid nitrogen.”

Miss Scanlon, from the Lancashire village of Heysham, reported feeling breathless and then developed severe stomach pain after drinking the cocktail.

She was taken to Lancaster Royal Infirmary at about 11pm, diagnosed with a perforated stomach and underwent emergency surgery to remove it, Lancashire Constabulary said.

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Liquid nitrogen has become popular for the making of some elaborate cocktails, with Heston Blumenthal among the most high–profile chefs to use it for culinary purposes.

The liquid form of the gas can be used to flash–freeze substances, and some bars use it to chill glasses or freeze ingredients, producing a dramatic–looking grey vapour.

Numerous recipes for liquid nitrogen cocktails can be found on the internet but the substance can cause serious cold burns and should never be ingested.

How does one survive without a stomach? Directly injecting sugary fluids into the veins? That must be tedious, and rather hard on the arms....

Yeah you see I think a lot of people with AS would look at this "smoking" drink and wonder what the draw is. It makes as much sense as going to a concert and screaming "woooooooooooo!! !! !" all night.


NTs think we are the ret*ds....

Yeah you see I think a lot of people with AS would look at this "smoking" drink and wonder what the draw is. It makes as much sense as going to a concert and screaming "woooooooooooo!! !! !" all night.


NTs think we are the ret*ds....

She almost won the Darwin Award.

ruveyn

You really are a terrible person, aren't you...? There really is no limit to the things you say, at times. The Japanese should be wiped out, the Afghans should, as well, and a girl who is served a drink that she very likely was unaware of what contained, apparently did it to herself, thus deserving a "Darwin Award".

At least you are old. Still, it's a shame that you will die such a bitter and overwhelmingly cynical old man, when you do. I honestly feel kind of sad for you.

She almost won the Darwin Award.

ruveyn

Who's idea was it to make a drink that had liquid nitrogen in it in the first place?

She almost won the Darwin Award.

ruveyn

I concur. If her condition makes it too dangerous for her to get pregnant, she might still qualify.

My grandchildren like me.

ruveyn