Deaths of Britons blamed on internet drinking craze

Two Britons have died after downing alarming amounts of alcohol in order to complete a controversial internet challenge, media reported Monday.

Isaac Richardson, 20, and Stephen Brookes, 29, are believed to be the first Britons to die in the internet drinking craze 'NekNomination', in which people post videos of themselves on Facebook and other social media sites drinking dangerous and bizarre concoctions of alcohol and then dare their friends to outdo them, Daily Mail reported.

Richardson, a former grammar school student, told his friend that he would "outdo" previous competitors in the controversial drinking game, before downing a lethal cocktail of wine, whisky, vodka, and lager, at a backpacker hostel in Woolwich, London.

After going to the bathroom to vomit, he was unconscious within minutes, and was taken to hospital where he died Saturday morning, the daily said.

"I want to outdo people; I want to do something that nobody has ever done," Richardson told Daniel Lee, who was also staying at the hostel, The Telegraph reported.

Stephen Brookes, 29, was filmed drinking the spirit Saturday night after being challenged to do so by a friend, but Sunday morning he fell ill and died.

Friends posted footage of Brookes carrying out his challenge Saturday but removed it after he became ill and died.

Police and health groups have issued warnings about the lethal drinking game, which started in Australia last month but, thanks to social media, has quickly spread around the world.