A 57-year-old man in China narrowly survived a life-threatening incident after accidentally drinking a marble polishing chemical stored in a beverage bottle at a construction site. The man, surnamed Gao, reportedly grabbed the bottle in the early hours of October 20, forgetting it contained 200 ml of leftover chemical. Shortly after ingestion, he experienced severe burning pain in his throat and was rushed to the hospital in a state of shock, already unconscious.
Doctors at Nanshan Hospital’s intensive care unit reported that Gao’s blood pressure had plummeted to 59/34 mmHg, and he suffered critically low calcium levels, metabolic acidosis, and multi-organ dysfunction. The chemical was later identified as a highly toxic corrosive containing fluorosilicate and hydrofluoric acid.
During a seven-hour emergency operation, Gao’s heart stopped 26 times due to the chemical’s effects, which included calcium depletion and interference with cellular respiration, severely impairing heart function. The medical team performed gastric lavage, fluid resuscitation, blood perfusion, and initiated VA-ECMO to replace heart and lung function.
Remarkably, after four days of cardiopulmonary support, Gao’s organs remained stable without infection, thrombosis, or bleeding complications. He was transferred to a general ward on October 29 and discharged on November 2 with no significant neurological aftereffects.
Medical experts emphasized the importance of handling chemicals safely, advising that cleaning agents should always be kept in their original containers, stored separately from food and beverages, and kept out of reach of children and the elderly. Immediate sealing after use is crucial to prevent accidental ingestion.
