Riley Lubas Paracetamol Overdose: Student Nearly Dies After Accidental Medication Overdose

NEWPORT, Wales — Riley Lubas, a 20-year-old university student from Newport, survived a severe accidental paracetamol overdose after unknowingly taking two over-the-counter medicines that both contained the painkiller.

The incident occurred in March 2025, during Riley’s first year studying creative media at the University of Bath. After developing what he believed was an ordinary cold, he purchased separate cold-and-flu medication and paracetamol without realizing that both products contained the same active ingredient.

Several days later, Riley developed severe stomach pain and struggled to keep food down. After contacting NHS 111 on the advice of his flatmates, he was taken to hospital, where doctors discovered that his liver was beginning to fail.

His condition deteriorated rapidly. Riley eventually developed multiple organ failure and was placed on life support and dialysis before being transferred to the specialist intensive care unit at King’s College Hospital in London. He was also placed on the UK’s liver transplant list as doctors assessed the severity of his liver damage.

Despite the seriousness of his condition, Riley’s liver began recovering without a transplant. About a week later, he was taken off life support and dialysis. He remained at King’s College Hospital for six weeks and later continued his recovery in Newport.

The illness left Riley needing to relearn how to walk and speak following his prolonged critical illness and a tracheostomy. He has since made a full recovery and returned to work as a bartender.

Riley and his parents, Chris and Kate Lubas, are now sharing his experience to highlight the importance of checking medicine labels. The family has also raised money for the King’s College intensive care unit through a 50-kilometre fundraising walk.

Health professionals have similarly urged people to check the ingredients of combination cold and flu medicines to avoid unintentionally taking multiple products containing paracetamol.