(L.A.) Chun Liu, 26, Died from Caffeine Intake

Case Number: 2006-09651

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 26-year-old male of Chinese ethnicity that occurred in a hotel/motel.

The coroner’s office has identified the young man as Chun Liu.

Manner of Death: Undetermined

Cause of Death: Caffeine Intake and Other Undetermined Factors

RIP CHUN LIU (April 22, 1980 – December 17, 2006)

Caffeine death is typically caused by ventricular fibrillation, which occurs when the lower chambers of the heart vibrate rather than contracting regularly and stops the heart from beating normally and causes cardiac arrest.

Caffeine will begin to affect the body if there are more than 15 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in the blood, with 80 to 100 mg/L being fatal.

Serious toxicities such as seizure and cardiac arrhythmias, seen with caffeine plasma concentrations of 15 mg/L or higher, have caused poisoning or, rarely, death; otherwise concentrations of 3–6 mg/kg are considered safe.