"Star of 'Below Deck' reveals that vaping caused his heart attack: 'I was close to death'"

Fraser Olender, known from the reality series Below Deck, is cautioning others about the potential dangers of vaping following a recent heart attack linked to vape-related complications. The star shared a detailed health update on Instagram, describing how a serious medical emergency landed him in the hospital.

"A few weeks ago, I was rushed to the hospital with intense chest pain and trouble breathing," Olender wrote. "I spent a week in London hospitals undergoing tests with specialists to determine the cause and extent of the damage. Simply put, I suffered from vape poisoning, known medically as E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), and it was the most frightening experience of my life."

Olender explained that the incident was triggered by a heart condition caused by vaping. "The contents of my vape caused a coronary artery vasospasm," he said. "This means the arteries that supply blood to my heart suddenly constricted. As a result, blood flow dropped enough to trigger an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), essentially a heart attack, not due to blockage but because my heart was deprived of oxygen during the spasm."

Sharing his story, Olender emphasized the seriousness of vaping and his gratitude for surviving. "If my experience encourages even one person to reconsider vaping, it is worth sharing," he wrote. "I havent used a vape since this happened and never will. The pain I endured for 24 hours was unbearabletwo rounds of morphine barely helped, and only the strongest pain relief available in the ER reduced it slightly."

He continued with a strong warning: "I could have died over something so senseless. Please, if you vape, stop immediately. We still know too little about these devices, but I can assure you, the experience was anything but harmless."

Olender also highlighted a positive outcome since quitting. "Its been almost three weeks since I stopped vaping, and my skin has never looked betterbrighter and clearer. There must be a connection," he said.

Olender first appeared on Below Deck in season 9 and became the franchise's first male Chief Steward in season 10. Recently, he publicly confirmed his relationship with Matt Rogers, co-host of the Las Culturistas podcast, who was present during his hospitalization.

Author: Olivia Parker