Police may issue an underage drinking citation to an Arizona State University student who was left passed out in the hospital lobby with a Post-it note saying he had taken about 20 tequila shots.
The 19-year-old boy was found Saturday in the lobby of St. Luke's Hospital, an ER located in Phoenix. According to police spokesperson Sgt. Michael Pooley, the student had a sticky note pasted onto his chest that bore his name and the details of his excursions with Jose Cuervo, according to a Washington Post article.
Pooley also said that a friend's name and number was included on the post-it. The student was in a compromised state when hospital staff found him, slumped over in the wheelchair and reportedly turning blue.
"He was turning blue in the wheelchair and he was...having difficulties breathing," Pooley said. "The emergency room staff treated him very quickly, and were able to get him checked out. They were able to actually save his life."
The student topped out a blood alcohol level of .47 percent, almost five times the legal limit.
He is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Arizona State University-a chapter that sparked controversy when one of its members, Jack Culolias, drowned in the Salt River.
"It's not just this fraternity," Pooley said. "We've had a lot of issues with fraternities this year."
Pooley added that some of the inebriated teen's friends that dropped him at St. Luke's left shortly after, claiming they were on their way to get food.
"One of the individuals said he had to go out to eat instead of staying there with his buddy...it's just complete irresponsibility and not wanting to [experience] consequences for your actions."
The friends said they first realized their fraternity brother needed medical assistance after a drinking competition with a few other compatriots. When the student began choking on his own vomit, they rushed him to the hospital, then left him there.
