NEED TO KNOW
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Nathan Edmunds started vaping at 13 and quickly became addicted, refilling his vape multiple times a day.
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His lung unexpectedly collapsed at 19, leading to hospitalization and ultimately prompting him to stop vaping.
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Edmunds hopes to share his experience to warn teens about the dangers of vaping, stating it’s simply “not worth it” despite its initial allure.
A teenager from Wolverhampton, who began vaping at age 13, faced hospitalization due to a collapsed lung. He even admitted to vaping while in the hospital until doctors informed him it was linked to his health issues.
“I thought it looked cool, and some friends were doing it, so I tried it and got hooked pretty quickly,” said Nathan Edmunds, now 19. “I got addicted to it in no time.”
Edmunds recounts that he would refill his vape up to three times daily, favoring fruity flavors like strawberry kiwi. “I was always reaching for it—every few minutes, having a few puffs. It was pretty much always in my hand or pocket,” he shared.
He described how he’d take his last drag before bed and place the vape on the windowsill, only to pick it back up first thing in the morning. “I really didn’t stop using it except when I was asleep,” he admitted.
However, everything changed suddenly on the night of December 19, 2025. “There were no warning signs,” he recalled. “The pain from my lung collapsing woke me up around six in the morning.” He was quickly rushed to the hospital, where doctors addressed the issue through a drain. “I was fortunate not to need surgery since it healed so fast,” he explained, adding it was a close call.
Surprisingly, Edmunds continued to vape even after being admitted to the hospital. It wasn’t until the medical team informed him that his vaping was the cause of his lung issues that he decided to “throw it in the bin right then and there.”
“There’s an alarming trend of collapsed lungs among younger individuals,” noted Dr. Stephen Broderick, a lung cancer surgeon at Johns Hopkins. “When we ask about smoking, patients often claim they don’t smoke but admit they vape. We encourage them to avoid both to prevent further lung issues.”
Edmunds aims to share his story to alert others, particularly teens. “It’s just not worth it for a little fruity taste or a nicotine high,” he stressed. Reflecting on his own initial disbelief of potential consequences, he said, “I used to think, ‘That won’t happen to me.’ But everyone believes that until it does.” His parting advice? “Quit before it’s too late.”
