DNP claims youngest victim

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

- Last updated on GMT

Deadly fat burner claims another victim
Deadly fat burner claims another victim

Related tags United kingdom

Illegal chemical DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) - commonly used as a fat burner - has been blamed for the death of an 18-year-old British man, making him the youngest British victim.

Chris Mapletoft, 18, was an A-Level student at an independent west London school a promising rugby player. He died on June 18 after initially complaining of feeling ill and hot, then vomiting and gasping for air, his father said.

It was initially believed that he had contracted meningitis but he died later that same day. This week the coroner's report confirmed DNP as the cause, making Mapletoft the third Brit to die from the industrial chemical this year.

The UK Food Standard Agency (FSA) first issued a warning about DNP last year and has since stepped up its attempts to crack down on the illicit internet sale​ of the fat burning drug in light of these cases. 

It has said it has knowledge of fat burning products being formulated with DNP and has called for the public to report any products they suspect of contamination to the police.

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