Call For Answers After Drink Consumed at Popular Bar Also ‘Damages Intestine And Oesophagus’

A man who suffered serious burns to his intestine, oesophagus and stomach after drinking a cocktail containing dry ice at a Birmingham bar has instructed specialist Public Health lawyers to help him gain answers regarding the incident.

The 46-year-old, drank the cocktail in the ‘lab’ area on the basement floor of The Alchemist on Colmore Row in November last year and, after falling severely ill, he saw his GP for medical advice.

From there, the man who is a professional worker in Birmingham, was referred to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch where he underwent an endoscopy and it was confirmed he had suffered burns to his duodenum, oesophagus and stomach lining. More than six months on from the incident, Mark’s life has been turned upside down and he is still unable to eat much of his favourite food or drink alcohol.

He has now instructed specialist Public Health lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office to investigate a potential legal case, to gain answers regarding the injuries he has suffered and to help with his recovery and rehabilitation.

Jatinder Paul, is an Associate Solicitor and specialist Public Health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the man.

Expert Opinion

“We are hugely concerned by the first-hand account provided to us by our client and we are now commencing our own enquiries into the experience he has suffered.

“While the use of dry ice and liquid nitrogen in cocktails has become increasingly popular in recent years, they are substances which need to be handled and managed in a safe and correct manner.

“Sadly there have been instances in the past where this not been the case, such as a wine bar in Lancaster being fined in 2015 after a woman needed to have her stomach removed following the consumption of a liquid nitrogen drink.

“Our client is understandably devastated by what he has been through and we are determined to help him gain answers as to what happened in this instance.” Jatinder Paul - Partner

The man visited The Alchemist for an event on the 24 November, 2016, and while he cannot recall the name of the drink he was served, he remembers how it was made.

He explained: “The dry ice was pressed down into the bottom of the glass and then a large ice ball was added on top. A straw was then added before the cocktail was poured in.

“Following the event I felt in a very bad way, so I went to my GP who then referred me to hospital. When my surgeon told me about my injuries after the endoscopy, I simply could not believe it.

“It’s been nearly a year since the event and I am still having lots of problems when eating and drinking due to the pain. When you get a drink like this in a popular bar you always think it is going to be safe to consume.

“This simply should not have happened and I just want to know what went wrong – not just for myself, but also so that no one else suffers like me.”

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