33-year-old Below Deck star blames vaping for his heart attack.

Fraser Olender, known for his role on Below Deck, has opened up about experiencing a heart attack caused by what he describes as vape poisoning. The 33-year-old reality TV personality shared the news with his Instagram followers on Friday, posting a series of photos from his time in the hospital.

A few weeks ago, I was rushed to the hospital with intense chest pain and trouble breathing, Olender explained in the posts caption. I spent a week in London hospitals consulting specialists to determine the cause and assess any potential damage. In short, I suffered from vape poisoning, medically referred to as E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), and I have never felt fear or pain like that before.

EVALI is described by the Cleveland Clinic as a serious inflammatory condition that harms the lungs. Experts have yet to pinpoint which ingredients in e-liquids trigger the inflammation.

Olender continued, The substances in my vape caused a coronary artery vasospasm, meaning the arteries supplying blood to my heart suddenly tightened. This reduction in blood flow resulted in an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), commonly known as a heart attacknot from a blockage, but because my heart was deprived of oxygen during the spasm.

He added, Im thankful to be in recovery now, and Im sharing my story because I never realized something like this could happen. If it helps even one person reconsider vaping, its worth speaking out. I havent used a vape since, and I never will. The pain lasted 24 hours, with two doses of morphine offering no relief. Ultimately, the strongest legal pain medication administered in the ER only reduced my pain from a 10 to a 7.

Olender concluded, I could have died over something so avoidable. Please, do yourselves a favor and quit vaping completely. We still dont understand the full risks, but I can tell you this experience was far from harmless. Take care of your health first, and thank you for all your kind messages.

In the Instagram post, Olender shared a short video of his boyfriend, Matt Rogers, by his side, and his final image showed him on a flight giving a thumbs-up, looking healthy and recovered.

Olender joined Below Deck in season nine as a steward and became the first male Chief Steward in season 10. The Bravo reality series follows the crew of a luxury yacht as they navigate high-pressure charters with demanding guests. Below Deck is set to return for season 13 on Bravo in 2026.

Author: Noah Whitman