Popular songwriter and singer Zubeen Garg, fondly remembered for songs such as Ya Ali, was severely intoxicated and drowned after declining to wear a life jacket in September last year, a Singapore court was told on Wednesday.
Officials mentioned that no foul play is suspected in the singer’s death and also informed that Garg had a medical history of hypertension and epilepsy, with his last known epileptic episode reported in 2024. However, it remains unclear whether he had taken his prescribed anti-epileptic medication on the day of the incident.
What happened to the singer?
According to witness statements, Garg was heavily intoxicated when he entered the water. Several people present at the scene reported seeing him attempt to swim back towards the yacht before he suddenly went limp and was found floating face down in the water. He was immediately pulled back onto the yacht, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. Despite these efforts, Garg was pronounced dead later that day.
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As per a PTI report, a toxicology analysis revealed that Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, indicating severe intoxication that could have significantly impaired coordination and reflexes. In comparison, Singapore’s legal blood alcohol limit is 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres.
Is it safe for people with a history of hypertension and epilepsy to indulge in heavy alcohol intake?
As per a journal titled 'Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Seizures in Patients With Epilepsy', a responsible alcohol intake seems to be safe for most patients with epilepsy. However, subjects with epilepsy and especially those with generalized genetic epilepsy should be made aware of an increased risk for seizures related to heavy alcohol consumption. As per Mayo Clinic, drinking too much alcohol can raise pressure on the walls of blood vessels to unhealthy levels.
An autopsy performed on Garg determined the cause of death to be drowning. Some injuries were found on his body, but they were found to have been sustained during CPR and rescue efforts, the Channel report said.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health. Please consult a health expert for more information.
