Fitness fanatic, 27, dies at home after drinking alcohol on an empty stomach triggers rare reaction

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Fitness fanatic, 27, dies in her garden after drinking alcohol on an empty stomach triggered a rare reaction

  • Alice Burton Bradford from Brighton suffered from alcoholic ketoacidosis 
  • The metabolic complication can be triggered from drinking on empty stomach
  • Friends say Ms Burton Bradford was not an alcoholic and was a fitness fanatic

By Jemma Carr For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A ‘health freak’ 27-year-old died after drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.

Alice Burton Bradford from Brighton suffered from alcoholic ketoacidosis – a metabolic complication which can be triggered from drinking without eating anything first.

She died in the garden of her home without even reaching hospital.

Friends say Ms Burton Bradford was not an alcoholic and was a fitness fanatic who enjoyed cycling and running.

Friend Aaron Mulvay, 30, who had known her for eight years, is calling for more information about the condition to prevent similar tragedies.

She suffered from alcoholic ketoacidosis - a metabolic complication which can be triggered from drinking on an empty stomach

‘Health freak’ 27-year-old Alice Burton Bradford from Brighton died after drinking alcohol on an empty stomach

She died in the garden of her home without even reaching hospital. Pictured: Ms Burton Bradford and close friend Aaron Mulvay, 30

She died in the garden of her home without even reaching hospital. Pictured: Ms Burton Bradford and close friend Aaron Mulvay, 30

What is alcoholic ketoacidosis? 

Alcoholic ketoacidosis is brought about by excessive alcohol use. 

Alcohol can cause the body to stop producing insulin. 

Because of a lack of insulin, the body cannot use glucose for energy.

It instead starts to burn fat which produces ketone bodies.

The more fat is burned, the more ketone bodies build up in the blood stream.

It is the excess number of ketones in the blood that causes ketoacidosis.

This can bring about symptoms including abdominal pain, slow movement, nausea and vomiting and decreased alertness or coma.

Mild cases can be treated with vitamins and nutrients – but the condition can be life-threatening. 

He said: ‘It was absolutely a horrible shock. No-one expected it at all. Just three weeks before she died, she had cycled over to say hello at a distance. 

‘I had never even heard of alcoholic ketoacidosis until she died.

‘We’re not sure how much she had been drinking that weekend, but she was not an alcoholic.

‘She had not eaten enough and it had triggered an acid in her stomach.

‘It was just so sudden – she didn’t even have to go to hospital but had gone out into her garden and passed away there.

‘It’s so tragic as she was such a young age.’

Ms Burton Bradford died last month and an inquest is expected.

Mr Mulvay described her as a fun person who loved nature and running.

‘Alice loved going out but she was also such a health freak – she was a member of running clubs and really enjoyed cycling.

‘During lockdown she was always taking her dog out for walks to the beach and running every day.’

Mr Mulvay, who is in close contact with Ms Burton Bradford’s family who live in Cornwall, has raised £979 so far in a crowdfunding campaign for a memorial bench.

He said: ‘None of us were able to go to Alice’s funeral so we want to put up a memorial to say our own goodbyes.

Mr Mulvay (pictured with Ms Burton Bradford), who is in close contact with Ms Burton Bradford's family who live in Cornwall, has raised £979 so far in a crowdfunding campaign for a memorial bench

Mr Mulvay (pictured with Ms Burton Bradford), who is in close contact with Ms Burton Bradford’s family who live in Cornwall, has raised £979 so far in a crowdfunding campaign for a memorial bench

‘We’d like to have it put on the cliffs where Alice used to walk her dog, or in a nice park as she loved wildlife.

‘We just want to raise as much as possible for a bench memorial and whatever is left over we will donate to a charity.

‘I definitely believe there needs to be more information out there about the dangers of drinking when you have not eaten properly.

‘Alice had so many friends and she will be dearly missed.’