DALLAS – Several college students from Oklahoma are back in the United States after two girls in their group were possibly drugged at a resort in Cancun, Mexico. One of the girls spoke from her hospital bed in Dallas, where she is recovering.

Zara Hull and Jake Snider, along with friends, traveled to Cancun last Thursday. 

“We just had a pool day,” said Hull. 

The vacation turned into a nightmare after Hull and her friend Kaylie visited the pool bar. 

“We both got water and within two minutes, Jake had turned around and we both hit the bar, heads down at the same time,” Hull said. 

They believe the water was drugged. Hull experienced severe symptoms, including convulsions, and was rushed to a private hospital in Mexico. 

“Basically, it was just me and Zara in this hospital that had hundreds of rooms,” said Snider, Hull’s boyfriend. 

“All the locks are on the outside of the room so they can lock you in,” Hull said. 

Snider never left Hull’s side.

The hospital demanded tens of thousands of dollars for her care. 

“They had increased the money they wanted. The baseline was $10,000 for them to even look at me,” Hull said. “They were holding me captive. We’re college students; we don’t have the money they’re asking for.”

Thirty hours later, they secured a private plane to Dallas, where Hull has been hospitalized since Saturday. 

“When we got here, I could not breathe on my own. They would try to get me off the ventilator, and every time my lungs would just stop,” Hull said. 

She has had at least 18 convulsions, but doctors have not found anything wrong. They say it is possible she was drugged.

Hull is on the road to recovery but will require physical therapy to learn how to walk again. The students’ families have not disclosed the name of the resort or hospital in Mexico out of fear for their safety. 

“There’s no telling, and that could put our entire families in jeopardy,” Hull said. 

They hope their story serves as a warning for others. 

“We’re not going to leave the United States ever again,” Hull said. “They say the resort is the safest place; don’t leave it. That’s not true.”

The families are asking for donations to help pay for Hull’s mounting medical bills, which total in the tens of thousands of dollars.

An Oklahoma local business is donating lifetime fishing and hunting licenses for any disabled Oklahoma Veteran, according to officials.

The owner of Wade’s RV Supercenter is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to pay for lifetime fishing and hunting licenses for any disabled Oklahoma veteran.

Wade Reeves has recreational vehicle dealerships in Oklahoma and Missouri, and owner Wade Reeves said he is passionate about supporting veterans because his father, sisters and son have all served in the military.

Reeves said he has formed relationships with many veterans over the years through his business and sees this initiative as his way of giving back.

“They come in, you can spot them, you know they’ve got their cap on that says veteran and what branch that they’re from,” Reeves said, “The first thing I do is I like to go up to them and just shake their hand and thank them for their service. From then it just creates a relationship, and from that relationship I just would like to give back to those guys to be able to go out and enjoy themselves.”

Wade’s RV has events throughout August to sign up vets interested in the licenses.

The video shows a dog nibbling on the battery, which explodes and bursts into flames on what looks like the pooch’s bed. Two startled dogs, including the one that accidentally caused the fire, stand at a distance and bark.

“Fire departments all over the country are seeing fires related to these batteries and we want the public to learn about usage, safe storage and proper disposal of these potentially dangerous batteries,” the department said, according to USA Today.

Tulsa Fire warned that lithium-ion batteries can cause situations that are deadly. “Lithium-ion batteries are known for storing a significant amount of energy in a compact space. However, when this energy is released uncontrollably, it can generate heat, produce flammable and toxic gasses, and even lead to explosions,” Tulsa Fire public information officer Andy Little said.

“Many individuals keep these batteries in their homes for convenience unaware of the potential dangers they pose,” Little added.

Collin Rugg, who shared the video on X, claimed the pets escaped the house through a dog door.

‘I’m glad the animals were able to escape unharmed’

Many X users reacted to the above video, with one commenting, “Wow. Glad there was a doggy door. Hope the house didn’t suffer much damage.” “Batteries need to be made longer lasting, and safer. It’s about time!” one user wrote, while another said, “I’m glad the animals were able to escape unharmed. Lithium batteries have some issues that need fixing!”

“Whoa – okay, it’s time to rethink leaving those lithium-ion batteries within reach of our furry anarchists,” one user wrote, while another said, “Thank god they got out! I was scared!” “That’s wild and happens more often than you would think,” one user wrote. Another said, “I’m glad the animals survived.”