ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Aussie Family Warns Others After Son Died After Adding Caffeine Powder To Protein Shake

Aussie Family Warns Others After Son Died After Adding Caffeine Powder To Protein Shake

He ingested the equivalent of 35 Red Bulls.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

A musician passed away on New Year's Day from caffeine toxicity after he added 'lethal' caffeine powder to his protein shake.

Lachlan Foote, 21, was due to celebrate his 22nd birthday the following day but instead his family found him dead on the bathroom floor of their home in Blackheath, New South Wales, Australia.

Now his dad has posted a heartbreaking message on to Facebook with the hope of possibly 'saving someone else's life'.

Lachlan Foote should have turned 22 the following day.
Facebook/Nigel Foote/Zoe Thornthwaite

After receiving the Coroner's report which found that Lachlan died of 'caffeine toxicity' his dad issued a warning about the potential consequences that can come with adding caffeine powder into protein shakes.

Nigel Foote wrote on his Facebook page: "While I don't wish to keep raising the subject of Lachlan's death on facebook, I'm posting this because there's a possibility it might save someone's life.

"Dawn and I have finally received the Coroner's findings regarding Lachlan - he died of 'caffeine toxicity' (not from a dodgy batch of protein powder as we had first thought). There was nothing else in his system except a small amount of alcohol (.043).

"It turns out that Lachlan came home after celebrating New Year's Eve with his friends and made a protein shake, innocently adding too much [caffeine powder] - a teaspoon is lethal (the equivalent of 25-50 coffees)."

Lachlan was a keen musician.
Facebook/Nigel Foote/Rachel Brady

Mr Foote went on: "We think Lachlan obtained the caffeine powder from a friend or work associate as a thorough search of his computer and bank statements, by both myself and the police, revealed no mention of caffeine powder, only related protein powder products.

"Therefore, it appears the pure caffeine powder was bought by someone else and shared, so it's very likely that Lachlan never got to read the warning label on the packet and was unaware of its potency.

"And the fact that he kept the caffeine powder in our kitchen pantry (where one of us might have mistaken it for flour or sugar) proves the point - Lachlan would never have kept it there had he known it was a threat to the family. He was a bright, imaginative young man.

"We're concerned that there might be other young people in his circle who bought or shared in this batch of pure caffeine powder and, like Lachlan, be unaware of the danger... hence this post."

Before his passing Lachlan had mentioned that his protein shake tasted bitter and in a Facebook message to his friends, he wrote: "I think my protein powder has gone off. Just made an anti hangover / workout shake and it tasted awful".

When a friend asked 'how', the 21-year-old responded: "dunno, was kinda bitter though... anyway night lads".

Lachlan added the caffeine powder into his protein shake.
Facebook/Lachlan Foote

Mr Foote continued with his post: "Morning never came for Lachlan. We found him, dead and cold on the bathroom floor (New Year's Day 2018)... the day before his 22nd birthday.

"It has been an excruciating wait for the Coroner's findings, but the love and support we have received from our family, friends and this fabulous Blue Mountains community has seen us through. We can never thank you enough.

"The investigation is finally over and we are not left wondering what exactly happened to Lachie any more - we now know. The original autopsy revealed caffeine but not the precise levels, so another, more specialised test had to be done, hence the delay. The Coroner's forensic team and counselling staff have been wonderful.

"We bear no ill feeling toward whoever shared the caffeine powder with Lachlan as we're sure this was just a tragic, innocent mistake.

"It's just insane that something so dangerous is so readily available. Please warn your friends, talk to your children... and perhaps check your kitchen cupboards...pure caffeine powder looks just like any other white powder... but a heaped teaspoon of it will kill you.

"I'm not going to go on a crusade about caffeine powder - we need to move on - but I do want to warn Lachlan's friends and the Blue Mountains community.

"I will post some special 'Lachlan moments' now and then - perhaps on his birthday - for I know how much he meant to so many of you. He lives on in our hearts... our photos... and in the stars..."

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Lachlan Foote

Topics: News, Australia