Jayden Richardson began vaping at just 12 years old to “fit in” with friends. By 17, he was using his vape so heavily that it was equivalent to smoking around 50 cigarettes a day.
While on holiday in Turkey, he developed chest pain and began coughing up blood. At first, the bleeding seemed minor, but within hours it became severe and frightening. After returning to the UK, he was taken to hospital for tests.
Early examinations did not show a clear cause. However, further investigations revealed significant lung damage. Doctors said excessive vaping was the likely reason. His family were shocked that someone so young could suffer such serious harm.
Jayden stopped vaping and the bleeding settled. Months later, he briefly used a vape again and quickly experienced the same symptoms. That moment convinced him to quit permanently.
He is now waiting for further scans and says he deeply regrets ever starting. Jayden hopes his experience will serve as a warning about the potential long-term dangers of heavy vaping, especially for young people.