Niamh Shackleton
What was supposed to be a fun vacation with friends turned into a nightmare after two college students reportedly had their drinks spiked.
Zara Hull and her boyfriend Jake Snider were joined by friends on a trip to Cancun, Mexico, on August 1 - Zara's first time traveling outside of the US.
While at their resort, Zara and her friend Kaylie Pitze went to the swim-up bar for a drink of water, but shortly after the pair fell seriously ill and Zara ended up being hospitalized.
Zara claims that it took just two minutes for her and Kaylie to become unwell and they now believe that their drinks were spiked.
In a harrowing photograph taken shortly after the ordeal, Zara and Kaylie are seen passed out on the bar while holding each other's hand.
Advert
"I have never felt like that in my life," Zara told CBS News of the symptoms she endured. "I was so heavy to the point where I could not lift up my head or anything. All of a sudden, I started having these seizing compulsions."
Zara was taken to a private hospital to be treated, with Jake never leaving her side.
The pair, who are both students at Oklahoma Christian University, were allegedly told they'd have to pay at least $10,000 for Zara to be cared for.
Advert
After a short stint in the Mexican hospital the college student was able to return back to the States via a private plane to Texas and is now being looked after in a Dallas-based hospital. The 20-year-old has been there since Saturday (August 3).
"When we got here, I could not breathe on my own," Zara recalled. "They would try to get me off the ventilator, and every time my lungs would just stop."
Zara's gone on to have at least 18 convulsions, as per CBS, but doctor's have not found anything wrong with her. This has sparked concerns that Zara was spiked.
Advert
According to the news outlet, Zara is on the road to recovery but will need physical therapy to be able to walk again.
The couple haven't named the establishment she was treated at in Mexico out of fear that it could 'put their entire families in jeopardy'.
Zara has now pledged to never leave the US again.
She said: "We're not going to leave the United States ever again. They say the resort is the safest place; don't leave it. That's not true."
Advert
It's unclear if they have filed a police report or not.
Meanwhile, Zara's family have set up a fundraiser to help pay for her medical bills. At the time of writing over $6,000 of the $35,000 target has been raised.