Niamh Shackleton
A family have suggested why two college students may have been victim to a suspected drink spiking incident on vacation.
Zara Hull, boyfriend Jake Snider and Kaylie Pitzer were just some of the members of a group of friends who jetted off to Cancun, Mexico, at the beginning of the month.
The occasion marked the first time Zara had left the US, but what was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime ended with the 20-year-old being hospitalized.
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While at their hotel, Zara and Kaylie went to the swim-up bar for a glass of water and shortly after taking a sip both girls fell ill.
A harrowing photograph shows both Zara and Kaylie near-unconscious and holding onto other another's hand at the bar.
It's now believed that the pair were spiked with synthetic fentanyl. This is yet to be proven, however.
While Kaylie went on to recover from the ordeal, Zara ended up being rushed to hospital and suffered at least 18 convulsions. She ultimately ended up on a ventilator in the ICU.
Fortunately Zara is now back in the US and is receiving ongoing treatment following the scary ordeal.
Zara and her boyfriend Jake have since raised concerns about the hospital she was treated at. The establishment allegedly asked for $10,000 up front for Zara's care.
Following the ordeal, those close to Zara believe she was drugged with the intention of trafficking her.
Stephanie Snider, the mother of Zara's boyfriend Jake, wrote on Facebook on August 10: "This time last Friday night we were in constant contact with my son on the phone while his girlfriend was in the so-called ICU in a Mexico hospital…so sedated that she couldn’t open her eyes or speak."
Jake wasn't able to stay by Zara's side through the night and was allegedly forced to pay $200 to sleep on a separate floor of the hospital. According to his mom he was 'afraid to sleep or close his eyes for fear of someone coming in and doing something to him'.
Stephanie's post went on: "We believe they were planning to take [Zara] away to be trafficked or perhaps even to take her organs (which is what we were later told is a common thing that is done). They most likely would have done something to my son as well, possibly even death."
A fundraiser has been set up to help pay for Zara's medical bills that are believed to be in the thousands.
The page has a $40,000 target and so far over $25,000 has been raised.