Below Deck cast member Fraser Olender, 33, has revealed a frightening health emergency that he believes was caused by vaping. In a heartfelt message to his followers, he described how a sudden wave of chest pain and trouble breathing sent him to the hospital.
He explained that doctors later determined he had suffered a heart attack linked to what they called vape poisoning, also known as EVALI. Moreover, he spent a full week in London hospitals while specialists assessed the damage and searched for answers.
Fraser, who has appeared on four seasons of the Bravo series and now serves as Chief Steward, said the experience brought a level of fear and pain he had never known. He shared that medical experts told him a substance in his vape triggered a coronary artery vasospasm. In simple terms, the arteries feeding his heart suddenly tightened. This brief but intense spasm cut off enough oxygen to cause a serious cardiac event.
Health experts note that vaping can raise heart rate and blood pressure, placing the body in a constant state of stress. Fraser now hopes his story encourages others to think twice. He stressed that the pain lasted more than 24 hours and required the strongest medication available in the emergency room.
Since the incident, he has avoided vaping entirely and says he never plans to return to it. As he told his audience, if his warning helps even one person reconsider, sharing the ordeal is worthwhile.
