A man choked to death at a hot-dot eating contest during Independence Day celebrations in South Dakota, US.
Walter Eagle Tail, 47, lost consciousness during the competition during the event at Way Park in Custer, and despite paramedic’s valiant efforts of resuscitation, he died at Custer Regional Hospital shortly afterwards.
Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler told the local Rapid City Journal:
“There was someone doing CPR when we arrived.
“Basically, he probably just suffocated. It got lodged in his throat and they couldn’t get it out.
“It all happened within minutes,” he added. “I think everybody was pretty well shocked about it.”
George Shea, the chairman of Major League Eating, a New York-based competitive eating organization which was not involved in the Custer event, said organizers do all they can to prevent casualties during contests and safety is a top priority.
Hot-dog eating contests have become a ‘Fourth of July’ traditional across the US, and this year marked the 99th anniversary of Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island.