A teen’s dare to eat a slug led to a tragic outcome, leaving him quadriplegic and changing his life forever
Sydney: This is such a sad story about a guy named Sam Ballard. He was just a teenager having fun with friends when a dare took a terrible turn.
Back in 2010, Sam was at a party and got dared to eat a slug. It sounds wild, right? But that one decision changed everything for him. He ended up getting really sick and was diagnosed with a serious infection that affected his brain.
Sam, who loved playing rugby, spent a whopping 420 days in a coma. When he finally woke up, he found out he was quadriplegic, meaning he couldn’t move his arms or legs. Can you imagine how devastating that must have been?
Years later, a friend who was there that night shared how Sam’s last words before eating the slug were a warning to others. He said, “Just take care of your mates.” It’s a reminder that dares can have serious consequences.
Sam’s mom, Kate, held onto hope that he would recover, but the years were tough on the family. She mentioned how it changed their lives forever. Sam needed help with everything, from eating to using the bathroom.
After three years in the hospital, he finally got to go home in a wheelchair. Friends tried to help raise money for his care, but it was still a struggle. In 2018, they faced another blow when his disability allowance was cut, leaving them in debt.
Sadly, Sam passed away in December 2018 at just 28 years old. His last words to his mom were “I love you.” It’s heartbreaking to think about how one silly dare led to such a tragic outcome.
