A man choked to death in front of horrified spectators during a hot dog eating competition in Custer, South Dakota, over the Fourth of July weekend in 2014. Walter Eagle Tail, 47, died at the speed eating contest after a hot dog became lodged in his throat.
Choking incident and immediate response
Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler said: "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. I think everybody was pretty well shocked about it."
A pie eating contest scheduled for the following day in the town was cancelled in the wake of Eagle Tail's death.
Community reaction and mourning
Custer Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dave Ressler confirmed it was the first time anyone had been injured at the local contest. "We are mourning for Walter and his family right now," he said.
The Rapid City Journal newspaper reported the incident as casting "a damper on the festivities", and organisers are contemplating changes to the competitive eating contest next year, reports the Daily Star.
Remembering Walter Eagle Tail
Eagle Tail was remembered as a man who had a great sense of humour and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He was known to sell bear claw necklaces at Crazy Horse.
Friend Ardis McRae told the paper: "Walter was just being Walter, having fun when he entered this contest. He was just having a good time." She described him as someone who brightened people's days and possessed a wonderfully outgoing nature. A tribute appeared on her Facebook page, featuring a photograph of Walter. It read: "This is my friend, Walter Eagle Tail, 47, he died Thursday. He will be missed."
Expert warnings on competitive eating risks
Dr Shanthi Sitaraman, a gastroenterologist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, warned Medical Daily that competitive eating carries significant dangers. He explained: "[B]inge eating could cause stomach perforations in people with undiagnosed ulcers. Another risk is water intoxication for competitive eaters who consume large amounts as part of their training. This can cause dilution of electrolytes in the blood."
George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating, a competitive eating organisation headquartered in New York, insisted organisers take every possible measure to prevent injuries at such contests. "We always make sure it's in a controlled environment," Shea said. "We organize the entire thing around safety. (Just as) if it's football or hockey or auto racing, we approach it as a top priority."
