UK university graduate who starved to death from fruit diet pleaded for help over symptoms

A UK university graduate who starved to death from a raw fruit diet made a plea for help over her crumbling yellow nails and rotting teeth, it has emerged.

Tragic ex-Leeds University student Karolina Krzyakexclusively consumed rawfruit when she was 19 after she became obsessed with "clean eating." But thePolish native's health dramatically deteriorated she could hardly turn over in bed during a trip to Bali in December 2024.

Staff at the Sumberkima Hill resort on the Indonesian island said she appeared "emaciated," with sunken eyes. The 27-year-old was even so weak that the night clerk had to support her as Karolina could not even carry her own weight.

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Just three days into her stay, Karolina's body was found in her room, reports The Cut. But the fruitarian's death came after years of health problems, including complaining her teeth had started to rot.

An online friend of Karolina revealed she had suffered from developed osteoporosis and albumin deficiency, which resulted in oedema and swelling of her feet. Karlolina shared her concerns in a social media group dedicated to raw veganism.

In an October 22, 2022, post shared to The Healthiest Raw Vegan Diet Facebook group, she made plea for help after noticing her nails were yellowing and crumbling. She said: "I know seeking 'diagnosis' or advice here based on photos may not be the ideal but maybe someone knows/ has experienced something similar.

"Do you think it's parasites? I do feel a lot of itchiness lately and very bad bloating. Of course, that just part of a while bigger picture of my health history but just got the first glance do you think this may be some kind of fungus?"

Despite her weight falling, Karolina expressed how she believed veganism "opened her eyes" to "so many things" and that she was "grateful" for the experience.

"She needed medical and psychological help, and the community often validated her behaviours instead," a friend said. One fruitarian health coach noticed Karolina due to her low weight and estimated she could not have weighed more than 4.2 stone.

Following a few months, friends reported she could barely maintain her balance and needed to walk slowly to avoid hitting objects. Karolina approached health coaches with the intention of seeking assistance for her illness but was adamant any treatment would need to include a raw vegan diet.